Storm brewing in Canada over French halibut fishery in Atlantic

Tensions are rising between Canada and France over fishing quotas for halibut, a valuable groundfish that migrates across the jurisdictions of both countries.

Fisheries and Oceans told CBC News in a statement Friday it is aware of vessels from Saint Pierre and Miquelon as well as the Faroe Islands taking part in recent fishing activity for Atlantic halibut adjacent to Canadian fisheries waters.

"We are deeply concerned about the impacts of this activity on the sustainability of this important fish stock, and we will take further actions as appropriate," said DFO spokesperson Axel Rioux.

"Canada continues to encourage France to engage in meaningful discussions to achieve a fair agreement that ensures the health and sustainability of the Atlantic halibut stock, and that recognizes the importance of this fishery to coastal communities in Atlantic Canada."

DFO's comments come after the Canadian halibut industry accused France of seeking an exorbitant share of the fishery in negotiations with Canada on quotas.

'Aggressive actions'

Canadian fishermen from Nova Scotia to Nunavut would be the losers if France prevails, said Bruce Chapman, executive director of the Atlantic Halibut Council, representing both inshore and offshore Canadian harvesters.

French territorial waters extend into the Atlantic from the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 25 kilometres from the southern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We urgently need the government of Canada's help to address and resolve this matter with France and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, whose aggressive actions are putting at risk the otherwise collegial and collaborative relationship between the two fishery interests, if not also more broadly," said Chapman.

For decades, the two countries have negotiated quota shares for so-called straddling stocks but have been unable to formalize an agreement on sharing halibut quota, most recently in 2016.

In a May 28 letter to the industry, Chapman said those negotiations were based on respective catch history, and the Saint Pierre and Miquelon share amounted to 1.5 per cent of the combined catch.

The Atlantic-wide landings were 4,000 tonnes in 2023. The fishery was valued at $100 million.

The French land halibut mostly as a bycatch in fisheries targeting other species, but that is changing.

When a French-flagged vessel — Terre Nuevas — began a targeted halibut fishery out of Saint Pierre, Canada asked to recommence negotiations, said Chapman.

French vessel landed 124 tonnes

Last September, in a Federal Court of Canada admiralty action over payment for the Faroese vessel, new owners SPM Ocean said the 37-metre liner caught 124 tonnes of halibut in French waters in 2023.

In his letter to industry, Chapman said France has increased "its previous demand, now wanting a quota percentage share in the order of four times its average catch history, well beyond its highest catch ever, ignoring the reality that any increase in the percentage share for Saint Pierre [and] Miquelon fishers would require a reduction in catch by Canadian fishers."

Beyond fishing in French waters, Chapman and other sources say directed halibut fishing is taking place just outside Canada's 200-mile limit off Newfoundland.

Earlier this month, the Terre Nuevas was halibut fishing beyond Saint Pierre and Miquelon waters in international waters just outside the limit, Chapman said.

Jason Spingle, secretary-treasurer of the FFAW-Unifor fisheries union in Newfoundland and Labrador, said he wants Canada to protect its historic share of the quota.

"We need to get this resolved," he told CBC News. "We don't want this to spiral out of control here in any fashion."

A readout of a March 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron noted the leaders "discussed common solutions to fishing interests and long-term sustainability."

On Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office declined to say if that was a reference to the disputed halibut fishery.