Notices

2026 - Closure of the herring fall fishery for Group B of Herring Fishing Areas 16C and 16E Moncton, New Brunswick - September 21st, 2026 Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the closure of the herring fall fishery for Group B (Prince Edward Island harvesters) in Herring Fishing Areas 16C and 16E. This decision was made following consultation with stakeholders, as the Group B allocation has nearly been reached. The fishery will close effective at 19:00 Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) on September 21, 2026.

Notice to Fish Harvesters 16F Herring - 2026 Fall Herring Fishery Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) wishes to advise the 2026 16F fall herring fishery Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is 2,072 t. The fall fishery will open at 18:00 hours on Sunday, September 13, 2026 until 12:00 hours on October 9, 2026 or until the quota is harvested, whichever comes first. In 2026, daily closures will again be implemented for the fall fishery from 12:00 hours to 18:00 hours in addition to weekend closures for all weekends while the fishery is open.

Fall weekend closures: 1. 12:00 hours Friday, September 18 to 18:00 hours Sunday, September 20 2. 12:00 hours Friday, September 25 to 18:00 hours Sunday, September 27 3. 12:00 hours Friday, October 2 to 18:00 hours Sunday, October 4 The fishing depth restriction of 50 feet in a portion of 16F will again be implemented by Conditions of License in 2026. Hail Out - Fishers must hail out at least 1 hour before departing for each fishing trip as per the Conditions of License in 2026. Electronic Logbook (ELOG) - The voluntary use of an ELOG for Gulf Region harvesters is authorized again in 2026.

Additional information is available on the following website: Electronic logbooks (ELOGS) https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/sdc-cps/nir-nei/elog-index-jbe-eng.html Furthermore, it is reminded that during the period when fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the license holder to take into account the marine safety notices issued, among others, by Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as the standards and best practices in marine safety, and to take all measures to ensure a safe fishery. Harvesters must refer to the conditions of license for compliance requirements.

Based on preliminary data, bait landings for Atlantic mackerel personal-use bait fishery are 337 tonnes. This represents over 72% of the second 466.67-tonne quota. As landings are nearing the second portion of the fishery, a notice to pause fishing on August 20 at 12:00 PM (Atlantic) is attached for your reference.

Notice to Stop Fishing Atlantic Mackerel Bait Tranche 2 Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be pausing the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in all Mackerel Fishing Areas as of 12:00 PM (Atlantic Daylight Time) on August 20, 2026. This notice to stop fishing is for conservation purposes as landings are nearing the second 466.67-tonne portion of the total allowable catch (TAC). For harvesters with a multi-species bait license, please refer to your conditions of license.

The third opening for the 2026 mackerel bait fishery is planned for early October and will be communicated separately. Todd Williams Chair - Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Committee

PEI Commercial Eel Fishery Charlottetown, PE - August 5th, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - Gulf Region wishes to advise eel license holders, that the commercial eel fishery in Prince Edward Island will open on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 at 6:00 am and will remain open until Sunday, October 25th, 2026 at 6:00 pm. All other 2025 management measures will remain the same for the 2026 season. For more information: Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management Officer Fisheries and Oceans Canada 782-377 2235 Derrick.Cummiskey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Chris Mills Chief Resource Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PEI

MACKEREL UPDATE FROM DFO: As of July 7, 2026, the preliminary data indicates approximately 475.3 tonnes (t) of Atlantic mackerel have been landed, which is 101.8% of the first portion of the mackerel bait fishery (466.67 t). A notice to pause fishing on July 8 at 12:00 PM (Atlantic) is attached for your reference, Click on the following link to view the notice: http://peifa.org/members/docs/Notice 2026 AMAC July 8 closure .pdf

NARW CLOSURE UPDATE – July 6th, 2026 - The latest DFO North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) Notice to Fishers (#31) noting a new NARW sighting inside the 10-fathom line within LFA 25. Click on the link to view the notice: http://peifa.org/members/docs/NARW closure 31.pdf The closure was announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on July 8th, 2026 at 5PM in full grids *HE33, *HE34, *HF33 and portion of grid(s) HE35, HF34, HF35, HG33, HG34, HG35. A few notes on the protocol as confirmed by DFO today: ⚫️ A temporary fishing prohibition protocol is triggered in shallow waters when a single NARW is confirmed by either visual or acoustic detection.

Exclusive to shallow waters only, the temporary fishing prohibitions are in force for a period of 7 days from the date of the NARW detection, including the gear removal period. ⚫️ The 7-day period starts on the day of detection. Day 1 is Friday, July 3rd for the whale sighted in LFA 25. If there are no more NARW sightings within a 7-day timeframe then the fishing prohibition grids will reopen on Friday July 10th.

If another NARW is seen within the 7-day timeframe, then a fishing prohibition extension of another 7 days is triggered. Seasonal closures do not apply in shallow water management areas. ⚫️ FOR THE HALIBUT LONGLINE FISHERY, FISHING CAN OCCUR INSIDE THESE NARW FISHING PROHIBITION GRIDS IF GEAR IS TENDED. During gear removal phase, when fishers lift their gear, if putting back in the water, they will need to tend it.

Here is the link to the 2026 shallow water protocol (inside waters less than 20-fathom for more info): https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/atl-arc/narw-bnan/2026/0326-eng.html#annex-3

For the full Notice to Fishers - 2026 Scallop Fisheries Management Plan - SFA 23, please click here. Mandatory Elogs for the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Rock Crab and Scallop Fisheries, for the Full Notice to Fishers, please click 2026 Gulf Region ELOGs Newsletter: Southern Gulf of St.

Lawrence Scallop Fishery, Scallop Fishing Area 22. For the full Newsletter, please click

CHANGE TO THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE LOBSTER FISHERY IN LOBSTER FISHING AREA (LFA) 24 Moncton, NB – June 15, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – Gulf Region wishes to inform harvesters that the last day of fishing for the lobster fishery in LFA 24 has changed from Sunday, June 28, 2026, to Monday, June 29, 2026. For the full Notice to Fishers, please click here.

Another North Atlantic Right Whale has been detected and will be impacting an area outside the 20-fathom line in Western LFA 24 fishery (Grids HD38, HD39, HD40). ***2026 NARW Update – Additional closures western LFA 24 – Updated June 9 th , 2026*** The closure, announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on June 11th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20-fathom line in the closure area. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time. No resetting of gear and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the DFO Notice is issued.

In other words, if you haul your gear, it must be moved. If you are inside the 20-fathom line, you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20-fathom line. DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter.

REMINDER: the Shallow water Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20-fathom line, so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website, when necessary, throughout the 2026 season. The image attached shows the location of whale closures set to commence on June 11th, 2026 5:00pm.

For the full DFO notice to fishers is attached, please click here.

The closure, announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on June 11th, 2026 at 5:00 PM DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20-fathom line in the closure areas. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time. No resetting of gear and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the notice is issued.

In other words, if you haul your gear, it must be moved since the closure was announced today. If you are inside the 20-fathom line, you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20-fathom line. DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter.

REMINDER: The Shallow Water Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20-fathom line, so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. The PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website when necessary, throughout the 2026 season. The image attached shows the location of whale closures set to commence on June 11th, 2026.

Full Notice can be found here.

If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibition(s) for the following grid(s) will be revoked on June 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.: Full grid(s) GS37, GS38, GT37, GT38, GW48, GW49, GY48, HE48, HE49, HF48, HF49, HF50, HG50 Portion of grid(s) GS36, GT36, GU36, HE50, HG48, HG49 If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibition(s) for the closure off North Lake will be revoked on June 1, 2026 at 5:00 pm. For the full Notice to Fishers, please click here.

The closure, announced yesterday, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on May 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20-fathom line in the closure area. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time. No resetting of gear and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the notice is issued.

In other words, if you haul your gear, it must be moved since the closure was announced yesterday. If you are inside the 20-fathom line, you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20-fathom line. DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter.

REMINDER: the Shallow water Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20-fathom line, so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. The PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website, when necessary, throughout the 2026 season. The image attached shows the location of whale closures set to commence on May 22, 2026, 5:00pm.

Full Notice can be found here:

If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibition(s) for the following grid(s) will be revoked on May 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.: If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibitions for the closure off North lake will be revoked on May 13, 2026 at 5:00am Full Notice to Fishers can be found by clicking here

***2026 NARW Update - First closure of 2026 - April 29, 2026*** North Atlantic Right Whales have arrived in the Gulf for the 2026 season, earlier than 2025 (first closure last year was May 20th, 2025). The whale was detected via a viking buoy that picked up the call of the whale. The closure announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on May 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20 fathom line in the closure area.

DFO is providing a 120 hour delay for the prohibited fishing grid(s) due to the weather forecast. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time, and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the notice is issued. If you are inside the 20 fathom line you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20 fathom line.

DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter. REMINDER: the Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20 fathom Line so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. The PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website, when necessary, throughout the 2026 season.

Full Notice can be found by clicking this link and shows the location of whale closures set to commence on May 4th, 2026, 5:00pm.

DFO has issued a Notice to Fish Harvesters relating to the 2026 pilot project of striped bass retention in the lobster fishery. To participate in the pilot, fishers must request to participate through their NOLS account. Click the following Notice to view the details: http://peifa.org/members/docs/Lobster Notice to fish havesters - Striped bass bycatch pilot project 2026 EN.pdf