TIMEFRAME OF FISHERY
There is no fishery from January to April
because of ice conditions. In
spring, mobile fleet (otter trawlers and Danish
seiners) begin their fishery.
This fishery is seasonal. Vessels follow
the migration of groundfish into the
Gulf, and again out of the Gulf in Autumn. The
4T fishery is carried out mainly
in two areas: between the Magdelan Islands, PEI
and Cape Breton (known as
the Eastern Gulf), and in western portion of 4T
off the Gaspe coast, Miscou
and the Bay of Chaleaur. The catches of
groundfish (in eastern Gulf) peak in
May, June and October as groundfish
congregate off Cape Breton for their
migration to the Scotian Shelf. Catches in the
western area peak in July and
October. There is normally a decline in August
and September when groundfish
are more dispersed. The fishery pattern is the
same for the Danish seiners and
otto trawlers. The fixed gear fishery is
prosecuted mainly in the summer months
when cod come closer to shore. Catches by this
gear sector normally peak in
June, July, August and also in November.