Notices to Fish Harvesters

Gaspé – July 7, 2025

Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Quebec Region is informing Atlantic halibut fishermen in the Gaspe peninsula fixed-gear fleet under 13.71 m for the Lobster fishers group of the management measures concerning directed fishing in 2025-2026.

Quota and Management regime

The initial allocation of Atlantic halibut for all Gaspe peninsula fleets is set at 1001.604 t for the 2025-2026 season. In accordance with the permanent sharing agreement between the 13.71 m and over and under 13.71 m Gaspe peninsula fleets, which is set at 63.5% : 36.5% respectively, the allocation for the under 13.71 m Gaspe peninsula fleet corresponds to 365.585 t.

In accordance with the permanent sharing agreements between the Gaspe peninsula fleets under 13.71 m, the Lobster fisher group share corresponds to 27.75% or 101.45 t for the 2025-2026 season.

As announced in the Notice to Fish Harvesters of July 10, 2023, the fishery for the 4RST Atlantic halibut allocation of the Gaspe peninsula fixed gear fleet of the Lobster Fishers group is now managed under an individual transferable quota (ITQ) system.

Please note that the maximum ITQ limit that a participant can hold by permanent transfer under this program is increased to 2.7522% of the fleet allocation as of July 4, 2025.

In 2025-2026, temporary transfers of Atlantic halibut ITQ will be prohibited. This exceptional measure, initiated in 2023-2024 to promote fleet rationalization, has been extended for a final year.

Fishing season

Licence holders in this fleet will be authorized to fish for 16 weeks. These are divided as follows: 12 weeks for summer fishing and 4 weeks for spring fishing.

Summer fishing will be authorized from July 8, 2025 at 4:30 (EDT) to September 29, 2025 at 11:59 (EDT). The second 4-week fishing period will be authorized in spring 2026, dates to be specified. Each licence holder in the fleet is authorized to take part in both fishing periods.

Fishing closures

Please note the following change to the closed areas for the 2025-2026 season:

• directed fishing for Atlantic halibut is authorized in 4T8.

Vessel Monitoring System

No vessel Monitoring System (VMS) requirements are in effect for the 2025-2026 fishing season.

Contrary to the Notices to Fishers issued on July 12, 2023 and January 24, 2024 for the Gaspé fixed-gear fleet under 13.71 m (Groupe des Homardiers), VMS will be mandatory for the directed Atlantic halibut fishery starting with the 2026-2027 fishing season.

Other management measures

The other management measures included in the 2025-2026 Atlantic Halibut Conservation Harvesting Plan 4RST, for the Gaspe peninsula fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m for the Lobster Fishers group, remain unchanged.

Licence conditions

To obtain Conditions of Licence, fishers must access the National Licensing System online. For assistance with the National On-Line Licensing System, please contact Client Support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by e-mail at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

For additional information :

Contact your area office at the telephone number below. You can also visit our website

Julie Bernier

Resources Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence area: 1-877- 898-5559

Note: In case of discrepancies between the English and the French versions, the latter prevail.