Canada and France reach agreement on the sharing of Atlantic halibut

The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier, announced yesterday that Canada had reached an agreement with France on a sharing arrangement for Atlantic halibut concerning St. Pierre and Miquelon, an overseas self-governing territory of France located in the northwest Atlantic Ocean near the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Found in waters from east of Newfoundland to the northeastern United States, most of the Atlantic halibut stock is in Canadian fisheries waters, but a small percentage of the stock is within the French Maritime Zone off the coast of St. Pierre and Miquelon. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of this stock, for both Canadian and French fisheries.

Thanks to this agreement, French fishermen in St. Pierre and Miquelon will be able to fish 3% of the total allowable catch set by Canada. Nevertheless, it allows them to catch Atlantic halibut in the French Exclusive Economic Zone and on the high seas, but not in Canadian waters.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) noted this allocation will allow for measured growth of the Atlantic halibut fishery in St. Pierre and Miquelon while providing benefits to Canadian coastal communities through French landings of Atlantic halibut in Canadian ports.

According to data provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in 2022, Canadian landings of Atlantic halibut were valued at approximately CAD 70 million (EUR 46.5 million / USD 51.9 million).

This agreement, which also provides for increased cooperation between France and Canada in scientific research on Atlantic halibut, supports the health and sustainability of the species population and recognizes the importance of this fishery to Canada's Atlantic coastal communities.

"I am pleased with the outcomes of our negotiations with France," said Minister Lebouthillier commenting on the deal. "I am confident that we've reached an equitable agreement that will ensure the long-term health of the Atlantic halibut stock while supporting the economies and coastal communities of both Canada and France."

Canada has been working with France since 2016 to reach an agreement on quota sharing for Atlantic halibut. Although it was unveiled yesterday, after a several-month round of negotiations, the agreement was finally signed last Friday, September 20, coinciding with another important update from Canada’s Government, the presentation of the draft of its Salmon Aquaculture Transition Plan for British Columbia.