Notices to Fish Harvesters
OPENING ATLANTIC HALIBUT 4RST GASPÉ FIXED GEAR FLEET LESS THAN 13.71 METRES LOBSTER FISHERS GROUP
Gaspé – March 27, 2026
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region announces the opening of the Atlantic halibut fishery for the Gaspé fixed gear fleet less than 13.71 m from the Lobster fishers group in the 4RST divisions.
The fishery will be authorized from April 1, 2026 at 4:30 a.m.(EDT), to April 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).
Management measures for the Atlantic halibut fishery are detailed in the Conservation Harvesting Plan for the 4RST Atlantic Halibut fishery by the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m for the Lobster fishers Group for the 2025-2026 season, approved on July 4, 2025 and published on our website.
Vessel Monitoring System
As specified in the CHP of that fleet, no requirements regarding the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) are in effect for the 2025–2026 fishing season that is ending with this fishing period. However, please note that the VMS will be mandatory for the Atlantic halibut directed fishery starting with the 2026–2027 fishing season, from May 15, 2026.
Reconciliation of quotas
It is the responsibility of licence holders to monitor their Atlantic halibut quotas and to ensure that catches made in their fishing activities are in accordance with the quotas allocated to them. The reconciliation of groundfish quotas applies to this fishery. Thus, any overrun of an individual quota incurred by a licence holder at the end of a management year will be deducted, on a one-for-one basis, from his individual quota in the following year(s).
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 more information
You can obtain additional information concerning the management measures and the fishing areas on our website at https://inter-l01-uat.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/infoceans/en/commercial-fisheries .
For more information, please call 1-877-898-5559
Julie Bernier
Resources Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gaspé–Lower St. Lawrence Are
Note: In case of discrepancies between the English and the French versions, the latter prevails.