Canadian shrimp fishermen will see a modest quota increase in the upcoming season that begins on Wednesday. Gail Shea, Canada’s minister of fisheries and oceans, on Monday announced catch limits for Shrimp Fishing Areas (SFA) 0, 4, 5 and 6.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans set a rollover total allowable catch (TAC) of 500 metric tons (MT) for SFA 0, as well as a TAC rollover of 14,971 MT in SFA 4.
The TAC for SFA 5 increases from 20,970 MT to 23,300 MT. Allocations to quota holders will also be reinstated to 2013/2014 levels. SFA 6 will have a rollover of 48,196 MT.
“This year’s science supports a modest increase of the total allowable catch. It means that all fishermen currently involved in this fishery will be out fishing this upcoming season,” said Shea.
Canada exports more coldwater shrimp than any other country in the world and shrimp is Canada’s fourth most valuable seafood export. Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) is the most abundant of the 30 shrimp species found in the Canadian Atlantic, representing approximately 97 percent of the overall commercial fishery in the region.
Canada’s Northern shrimp fishery, which earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification in 2008, opens on 1 April for SFAs 4, 5 and 6; SFA 0 opened on 1 January.
Northern shrimp approached historic highs in 2014, with high prices expected again this year.
