Notices to Fish Harvesters

NORTHERN SHRIMP – AREAS 8, 9, 10 AND 12

2026 SEASON

SUBJECT : Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and other management modalities

Québec – March 26, 2026

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - Quebec Region announces the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for Northern Shrimp of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) (Shrimp Fishing Areas 8, 9, 10 and 12) that will be in effect for the 2026 season, and allocated in accordance with the stabilized shares in place since 2009.

Area	TAC (tons)
Estuary (SFA 12)	995
Sept-Iles (SFA 10)	917
Anticosti (SFA 9)	2,009
Esquiman (SFA 8)	1,498
TOTAL	5,419

Details on the breakdown of TACs and other management measures are available in the 2026 Conservation Harvesting Plan approved on March 20, 2026.

Exceptional measures for temporary quota transfers  

The flexibility measure relating to temporary quota transfers in effect in 2025 will be continued in 2026. Thus, for the 2026 season, temporary quota transfers between participants under ITQs regime will be authorized up to 100%, including transfers between Quebec Group A and Group B participants, and transfers between Group B participants from different provinces. Similarly, associations holding EGSL shrimp allocations will be authorized to transfer them on a temporary basis to Quebec Group A or Group B fish harvesters.

DFO wishes to remind all fish harvesters under the ITQ regime that it is the responsibility of each participant to make the necessary arrangements prior to the departure of a fishing trip to ensure they have the necessary quota or quotas to cover the catches likely to be made during that trip.

Conditions of Licence

Starting with the 2026 season, access to fishing areas for Group B licence holders will be limited to the area(s) for which they hold a positive revised quota at the time of their Conditions of licence request. Licence holders will be eligible to receive new Conditions of Licence granting access to other areas upon receipt of temporary transfers.

Publication of the Rebuilding Plan

The Rebuilding Plan for Northern Shrimp in Areas 8, 9, and 10 is now available online on the DFO website: Rebuilding Plan: Northern Shrimp, Pandalus borealis – Areas 8, 9, and 10.

For further information

You can find additional information about management measures and fishing areas on our page dedicated to: Commercial fisheries.

Magalie Hardy	Danielle Roy	Martin Henri
Resource Management	Resource Management	Resource Management
Fisheries and Ocean Canada	Fisheries and Ocean Canada	Fisheries and Ocean Canada
Québec region 418-360-4395	Gulf region (506) 874-9214	Newfoundland-and-Labrador region 709-693-4744