News & events

PEI Tuna Reallocation Update (September 23rd, 2026): As discussed with the PEIFA Tuna Advisory Committee, there will be 35 more tags issued to PEIFA members (#309 to #2 on the draw list inclusively). They will be available for pick up at the DFO Area Office in Charlottetown at 8AM on Thursday, September 24th. Possession of a bluefin tuna tag authorizes participation in the fishery but does not guarantee access to quota.

The fishery will close once the available quota has been harvested. New license conditions should be available in NOLS account the morning of Thursday, September 24. The fishery will re-open at Noon on the 24th.

For more information, contact DFO Chief Resource Manager, Chris Mills

2026 Atlantic Mackerel Bait Fishery - Third Opening Fisheries and Oceans Canada will re-open the competitive, personal-use Atlantic mackerel bait fishery on October 3, 2026 in all mackerel fishing areas. This opening will provide access to the remaining 466.67 tonnes allocated to the mackerel bait fishery for the 2026 season, representing the third and final portion of this fishery announcement by the Department on July 3, 2026. For additional information, please refer to the DFO News Release.

Participating harvesters will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs) to be fished by either gillnet or handline. Monitoring will be achieved using various measures, including a 100% hail-in requirement in all regions. Additional information related to conditions of license, will be available through the National Online Licensing System.

Todd Williams Chair Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Committee

PEI Portion of Canadian Quota: 174, 096 kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273 kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012 kg PEI Total Quota: 188,835 kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 590 Total Quota Landed (kg): 107, 268 kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 81, 566 kg remaining Average Weight: 182 kg Percentage of Quota remaining: 43.2 %

Reminder PEI Tuna Fishers: Deadline is 23:59hrs on September 22, 2026 to land your first tuna (land two tuna if in a pooling agreement with two license holders and land three tuna if in a pooling agreement with three license holders). New license conditions will be issued as soon as possible following the September 22nd deadline based on those fishers eligible to fish their additional tags. Any questions, contact DFO at: DFO.PEIRM-GDRIPE.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Reminder: Deadline is September 18th to provide input to DFO through their online questionnaire on the use, control and transfer of fishing licenses (Inshore Fisheries regulations and the Owner Operator policy). Click the link to access: https://questionnaire.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=A26DC3FA-4FDD-4560-A560-11F1040C76E1&fbclid=IwY2xjawUXnptwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Vsntl3EzfHzL_I3YbiU4B91EMAVziabwbsgfexZd7MTCra05o2I90oYoB2Q_aem_7EH95_3SmuzlxZWcaGgLDQ

The Campobello Whale Rescue team will be on PEI again this year sharing knowledge and experience for those interested in learning about what they do. Please see below for their schedule. "We're on our way for Dockside Chats!" Visit the Campobello Whale Rescue team on our 2026 Dockside Tour September 15 9AM North Lake Harbour 2PM Naufrage Wharf September 16th 9AM Covehead Wharf 2PM North Rustico Harbour

Below are the tuna landings as of September 10th, 2026 Bluefin Tuna Landings for PEI - September 10, 2026 PEI Portion of Canadian Quota: 174,096 kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273 kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012kg PEI Total Quota: 188,835 kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 542 Total Quota Landed (kg): 97,119.1 kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 91,715.9 kg remaining Average Weight: 179.2 kg Percentage of Quota Remaining: 48.5% Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management PEI Area Office Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Attention LFA 25 fishers: Just a heads up, CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier plans to be steaming through LFA 25 sometimes between Sunday, Sept. 6 to Monday, Sept. 7, as part of the 56th annual September science survey of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

They are not conducting any fishing tows where there is lobster gear, and are only on their way to the next stratum to continue their sampling. Please spread the word to fishers in your harbour.

The PEIFA is seeking up to 12 Silverside fishers for a potential striped bass bycatch retention pilot project in 2026. It is anticipated that participants will be able to catch, retain and sell striped bass bycatch during this project. You must be a PEI silverside fish harvester to apply.

Participants will be evenly distributed across the PEI silverside berth distribution. Draws of interested participants will be divided based on berth location (northside vs southside berths and East, Central and Western locations on PEI) to ensure even distribution. Limitations on size of bass to be retained, # of bass retained per participant, and the data collection required will be finalized with the approval of the DFO permit.

It is anticipated that participants will be able to retain bass throughout the silverside season (October 1st to December 31st) or until the individual catch limit is reached. All details on the pilot project are subject to DFO approval. Registration Dates/Times: 8:30 AM Friday, August 28th, 2026 to 4:30 PM Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 Location: Farm Centre, 420 University Ave, Suite 102, Charlottetown Fee: No fee for registration How to register: Fishers can register online at www.peifa.org by clicking the "Striped Bass Bycatch in the Silverside Fishery Pilot Project 2026" link under "Registrations" or contact the PEIFA Office to register by phone 902-566-4050 Extension 1 or 2, or in person.

Required information: Captain's Name, Phone #, Email, Silverside License #, Berth Location The draw will be held on September 8th, 2026 following the registration deadline. Interested individuals can find more details about the registration and the pilot project by visiting the website, www.peifa.org or contact Laura Ramsay @ 902-393-2281, laura@peifa.org or Melanie Giffin @ 902-330-4466 or melanie@peifa.org

Attention HFA 16G Fall Herring fishers: There is a new waiver to be signed for 2026 Overage Program (this applies to previous participants and new fishers). Note there are changes to the program this year, see waiver for more details. Please contact the PEIFA office asap 902-566-4050 extension 1 or 2 to get those signed and appropriate license conditions assigned.

Any questions or more info contact Laura 902-393-2281.

REMINDER: DFO Engagement Session Online (zoom link) and in person meeting @9AM, August 25th at the Holiday Inn Express in Charlottetown DFO Engagement session on inshore fisheries regulations in Atlantic Canada. Open to all members. DFO is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Inshore Regulations.

The Inshore Regulations (which can be found in Part III of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 and the Part I.1 of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations) guide licensing in the Inshore sector in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. The Inshore Regulations are rules that clarify who can hold a licence, who must do the fishing, and who can make decisions about the fishing. They prohibit anyone other than the licence holder from using or controlling the rights and privileges that are granted to the licence holder.

Bluefin Tuna Landings for PEI - August 20th, 2026 PEI Portion of Canadian Quota (Final): 174,810 kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273 kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012 kg PEI Total Quota: 189,549 kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 282 Total Quota Landed (kg): 46,666 kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 142,882 kg remaining Average Weight: 165.49 kg Percentage of Quota Remaining: 75.38%

Fish Harvesters are reminded that under the Atlantic Fisheries Regulations https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-21/page-3.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXie5wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5ZLJkrWZ_mzzYIfmq2kqxzzPYBFUgv4SmclTsMBGdCHPxTMb0FNfVoilKb4Q_aem_6zNlXQWxMXQEPLBqrJlwsA#h-891902 mackerel retained for bait in the Gulf Region must meet the minimum size requirement. Mackerel less than 26.8 cm in length may not be fished for, bought, sold, or possessed, subject to the exceptions outlined in subsections (2) and (4). 48 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4), a person shall not fish for, sell or have in their possession any mackerel that is less than 26.8 cm in length. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to mackerel that are less than 26.8 cm in length if (a) the catching of the mackerel was incidental to the catching of longer mackerel; and (b) the number of mackerel less than 26.8 cm in length retained during any one fishing trip does not exceed 10% of the number of longer mackerel caught and retained during the fishing trip. (3) For purposes of subsection (2), the percentage shall be determined on the basis of four or more samples taken from the catch, with each sample containing 50 or more mackerel. (4) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to mackerel caught with gill nets. Please contact your Conservation & Protection Officer for clarification regarding license conditions and/or fishing regulations.

DFO has advised that they will be releasing an additional 80 tuna tags to PEIFA license holders. The draw numbers eligible for an additional 3rd tag are from draw numbers 229 - 308. These tags will be available for pick up Tuesday – August 18, 2026.

Any questions, please contact Derrick Cummiskey, DFO Resource Management at 782-377-2235

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will open the competitive, personal-use Atlantic mackerel bait fishery on August 17th, 2026, in all mackerel fishing areas. An additional opening is tentatively scheduled for early October and will be communicated separately. These openings implement the additional bait fishing access announced by the Department on July 3rd, 2026.

For additional information, please refer to the DFO News Release. Participating harvesters will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs) to be fished by gillnet or handline. Monitoring will be achieved using various measures, including 100% hail-in requirement in all regions.

Additional information related to conditions of license will be available through the National Online Licensing system.

The Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association received the following correspondence from DFO Gulf Region. Please note that although license conditions have been released, they are NOT valid until the fishery has been officially announced as open via a Notice to Fish Harvesters. - In preparation for the upcoming announcement of the mackerel bait fishery, DFO is informing Gulf Region license holders that updated license conditions have been released in the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) and will be accessible online shortly. A reminder that the amended license conditions must be printed prior to fishing. - Please note that, pursuant to Notice to Harvesters GNOT-2026-001, the mackerel fishery in MFA 16 remains closed until further notice. - DFO will communicate the opening date through a Notice to Fish Harvesters.

The updated license conditions will not be valid until GNOT-2026-001 has been revoked.

The PEIFA in partnership with our developer Sociologica, is pleased to announce the Captain’s Elog, a made in PEI electronic logbook. We are holding a refresher training session for the lobster elog. See dates and times below.

Elog Training in O’Leary Date: Wednesday, July 29th Location: O’Leary Legion – 69 Ellis Ave Time: 10:00 am and 12:00pm *****IMPORTANT INFORMATION BELOW**** Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) Captains Elog Training The PEIFA in partnership with our developer socilogica, is looking forward to providing hands on training for our DFO approved Captains Elog. To provide the best training experience possible, the PEIFA wants to ensure each fisher who chooses to use our app, can download it on their phone or tablet the day of training. This will ensure the training is more meaningful.

With this in mind, we ask each fisher to come to training with the following: · Each fisher can click on the link below to access the DFO website using your NOLS username and password. Scroll down to the bottom of the webpage and click get your elog key. This will also require 2-factor authentication.

Please bring this elog key with you to training . (*TIP: copy and text it to yourself so it is easily entered on your app) https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/sdc-cps/nir-nei/elog-key-cle-jbe-eng.html You will also need to have your apple or google ID and password. This will allow you to download the app on your phone. You will need to have your FIN, VRN and License number so that you can register and set up an account.

Lastly you will need your credit card to purchase. The cost is $60 for an annual subscription for the lobster elog. It is important to have all this information with you the day of training.

Given time constraints, we may not be able to help many fishers to obtain this information during training. We will do our best!!

LOBSTER QUALITY & HANDLING WORKSHOP – O’LEARY LEGION The session will include a door prize, as well as a certificate of completion from the PEIFA. This workshop is FREE and open to ANYONE who handles lobster: harvesters, deckhands, buyers, plant employees, etc. If you have your deckhands hired already, this is a prime opportunity: proper handling techniques to reduce stress and therefore mortality, and how to determine the quality of your lobster.

This workshop will only go ahead if a minimum of ten people are registered by the deadline. Date & Location: July 29 th , 2026 @ O’Leary Legion Branch #2 at 10 AM – 2 PM. DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS JULY 28 TH , 2026 @ 4:30PM Please email royelle@peifa.org or call the PEIFA Office at 902-566-4050, Extension 1 or 2, or text 902-330-8724 to register.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is conducting a comprehensive review of the Inshore Regulations , which includes six in-person sessions designed to gather inshore perspectives. The Inshore Regulations refer to DFO’s rules that determine: Who can be issued an inshore or coastal licence; What is required of licence holders; and Things that are prohibited. purpose of the comprehensive review is to better understand: Any general concerns you may have; The main challenges you have experienced with the current implementation of the Inshore Regulations and the benefits you see of having strong rules; Opportunities for improving the regulations; and, Anything else you think is important for the review. You are welcome to participate in whichever of the following sessions suits you best, all sessions will be available in person or virtually: July 30, 2026 - St.

John’s, NL; Venue: Sheraton Hotel (Address: 115 Cavendish Sq, St John’s NL A1C 3K2) August 18, 2026 - Halifax, NS; Venue: Sandman Signature Hotel (Address: 973 Wilkinson Ave, Dartmouth NS B3B 0M9) August 20, 2026 - Saint John, NB; Venue: Saint John Trade and Convention Centre (Address: 1 Market Sq, Saint John NB E2L 4Z6) August 25, 2026 - Charlottetown, PEI; Venue: Holiday Inn Express (Address: 200 Capital Dr, Charlottetown, PE C1E 2E8) *August 27, 2026 - Moncton, NB; Venue: Delta Beausejour (Address: 750 Main St, Moncton, NB E1C 1E6) *September 9, 2026 - Quebec City, QC; Venue: L’hôtel Quebec (Adresse: 3115 Avenue des Hôtels, Québec Quebec G1W 3Z6) *These sessions will have simultaneous interpretation available. DFO is asking for your participation to help inform the review. Your participation can help make sure that any options they develop to strengthen the inshore regulations will include licence holder perspectives.

You are also encouraged to forward this email broadly with anyone else you think may have perspectives DFO should know about. This could include licence holders, crew members, accountants or other financial providers, lawyers or other legal service providers, NOLS representatives, or anyone else that helps you manage your fishing enterprise. The full overview of the comprehensive review, including the topics that will be discussed, the presentations that will be provided, the engagement dates (locations and venues), as well as a link to the questionnaire, can be accessed at this link: Comprehensive Review: Strengthening the Inshore Regulations .

The engagement materials will be added to this site as they become available. You are encouraged to check back regularly.

We have received confirmation of the Mexican quota transfer to Canada. PEI will receive 18.012 t of additional BFT quota (same as last year). This represents an additional 80 tags to be released, to PEIFA licence holders.

The draw numbers eligible for an additional tag are from draw number 148 - 228. These tags will be available for pick up Monday – July 20, 2026. - Derrick Cummiskey, Resource Management - DFO

Congratulations to the winners for each site. Staff from the PEIFA will be contacting all winners starting Friday, July 17th, to confirm participation of the site you won. If you know you would like to accept your site you don’t have to wait for the phone call, please contact Melanie Giffin via phone or text at (902)-330-4466.

Reminder: 1.) Confirmation of participation is required at the time of the call 2.) Participation in a meeting to review all contract requirements and conditions will be required and fees must be paid by the end of that meeting which is scheduled for July 29th at 4pm at the Farm Centre. 3.) If you were drawn #1 for more than one site, you will need to choose which site you want and the person in the #2 spot then becomes #1 for the site you give up. 4.) The first 5 names drawn are posted but there is only 1 winner for each site. 5.) Participant must have the vessel in their name prior to permits being issued by DFO, no vessel transfers will be permitted and the Captain must be on board for all trips under this permit