Notices to Fish Harvesters
Opening for harp seal and grey seal fishery (hunt) in areas 17, 18 and 19. Gaspésie_ 2025
Gaspé – October 27, 2025
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region announces the opening of the harp seal and grey seal fishing (hunt) in zones 17, 18, and 19. Please note that the season will begin on November 1 at 6:30 a.m. (EDT). However, it is prohibited to fish (hunt) seals more than half an hour before sunrise or more than half an hour after sunset.
Fishing (hunting) will be open for permit categories Q300 to Q322 and Q330 to Q332. The fishing (hunting) periods are as follows :
- Grey seal: open from November 1 to December 31, 2025, and from January 20 to February 15, 2026;
- Harp seal: open from November 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026.
The management measures are available in the 2024-2025 Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) approved on October 30, 2023, and amended on October 25, 2024, to include changes to fishing (hunting) dates. The CHP covering the year 2026 will be released shortly.
Furthermore, it should be noted that during the period during which fishing is authorized, it is the captain's responsibility to read the notices issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada related to marine safety, as well as safety standards and good practices, and take all the necessary steps to ensure safe fishing.
To obtain the Conditions of License, harvesters must access the National Licensing System online. For assistance with the National Online Licensing System, please contact customer support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
For furthur information
Contact your area office at the telephone number below. You can also visit our website.
Julie BernierResource management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gaspé (Québec)
Gaspe- Lower North Shore area: 1-877-898-5559