Notices to Fish Harvesters

Approved June 08, 2026

1. Application

This Atlantic halibut Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to groundfish licence holders with fixed gear of the less than 19,81 m fleet from Magdalen Islands when conducting Atlantic halibut fishing activities in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 4R, 4S and 4T divisions from May 15, 2026 to May 14, 2027.

It should be noted that:

• This CHP is subject to change following ministerial decisions or annual review;
• A separate CHP applies to directed fishing for any other groundfish species;
• When fishing in a NAFO division other than those indicated in this CHP, the CHP for that division applies;
• The targeted species during a fishing trip is the species for which a licence holder holds valid Conditions of licence;
• Round weight is the weight prior to processing of any kind.

2. Fishing Areas

Subject to valid Conditions of licence and to a Variation Order, licence holders are authorized to fish Atlantic halibut in NAFO Divisions 4R, 4S and 4T.

The fishing areas coordinates are indicated on the fishing areas maps.

3. Fishing Closures

3.1 Coral and sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

All fishing activities that use bottom-contact gear or gear designed to come into contact with the sea bed, including but not limited to bottom trawls, dredges, gillnets, bottom longlines, bottom seines and traps, are forbidden in the conservation areas.

For more information and maps of the eleven coral and sponge conservation areas, please visit the dedicated DFO website Coral and sponge conservation measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

3.2 Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

Provisions of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations apply to licence holders. In order to comply with them, please refer to the clauses that apply to your fishing activities :  Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations

3.3 Protection of fish during spawning and cod concentrations

Protecting fish during their spawning period and in areas where there are concentrations of juveniles is a priority that the Department and the industry consider very important for the recovery of the Cod stock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The following conservation measures apply:

• From April 1 to June 23
  • Closure of all groundfish fisheries in part of NAFO Division 4R off shore from St. George’s Bay and Port-au-Port Bay, which is a recognized spawning area, enclosed by the straight lines joining the following points:

 

                                          1.   48º15'00" N   59º20'00" O

                                          2.   49º10'00" N   59º20'00" O

                                          3.   49º10'00" N   60º00'00" O

                                          4.   48º15'00" N   60º00'00" O

                                          5.   48º15'00" N   59º20'00" O

• From January 1 to December 31
  • Except for atlantic halibut fishing, closure of groundfish fisheries in part of NAFO Subdivision 4T5 (Shediac Valley), which is recognized as a juvenile area enclosed by the coastline and rhumb lines joining the following points in the order in which they are listed:

                                          1.   47º33'00" N   64º54'00" O

                                          2.   47º33'00" N   63º26'42" O

                                          3.   47º30'00" N   63º30'00" O

                                          4.   47º03'15" N   64º00'00" O

                                          5.   47º00'48" N   64º49'40" O

• • Closure of groundfish fishery in a portion of Subdivision 4T3 (Miscou Bank) bounded by the rhumb lines connecting points 1, 2, 3, 4, and 1 below, in the order listed, except for the portion bounded by the rhumb lines connecting points 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 2, which remains open to Atlantic halibut fishing using fixed gear from June 24 to December 31:

                                          1.   48º15'00" N   64º22'00" O

                                          2.   47º52'00" N   64º22'00" O

                                          3.   47º52'00" N   64º02'00" O

                                          4.   48º15'00" N   64º02'00" O

                                          5.   48º09'00" N   64º22'00" O

                                          6.   48º09'00" N   64º10'00" O

                                          7.   47º55'00" N   64º10'00" O

                                          8.   47º52'00" N   64º15'00" O

Note: The lines joining points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 1 (in that order) represent the permanently closed area, that is, a portion of the traditional Miscou box.

The lines connecting points 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 2 in that order delineate the area open for directed fishing for Atlantic halibut using fixed gear between June 24 and December 31.

3.4 Atlantic halibut directed fishery temporary closure

A temporary closure of part of the 4T division is in place, considering the excessive bycatch of cod previously observed, and will remain closed until further notice. This area, bounded by the rhumb lines connecting the following points in the order listed, will remain closed until further notice:

                                           1. 49°02’00" N   64°10’00" O

                                           2. 48°31’00" N   62°37’00" O

                                           3. 48°23’00" N   63°08’00" O

                                           4. 48°46’00" N   64°10’00" O

                                           5. 49°02’00" N   64°10’00" O

4. Fishing Seasons

• Period 1: From June 15 to October 31, 2026.
• Period 2: From April 1 to April 28, 2027.

Licence holders are authorized to participate in both fishing periods, however, they must ensure they hold sufficient allocations to cover the catches that are likely to be made during their fishing activities.

Only licence holders with a remaining quota at the end of the first fishing period will be authorized to participate in the second.

The fishing periods established above are in effect for the duration of this CHP. They represent the maximum fishing periods, subject, among others, to Variation orders and specific periods of closure. Opening dates may vary according to particular circumstances such as industry requests and the TAC announcement while closing dates may be advanced according to factors such as the reach of quotas or when risks of exceeding them are high. The specific periods will be confirmed through Notice to Fish Harvesters or Variation Orders.

It should be reminded that it is the responsibility of the captain to acquaint himself with the marine safety notices published by Environment and climate change Canada and Transport Canada as well as with the standards and best practices in marine safety and to take all measures necessary to insure a safe fishery during  the period where fishing is authorized. 

5. Number of licences and access

Not applicable.

6. Management Regime

System of management based on individual transferable quotas (ITQs).

6.1 Quotas

The Atlantic halibut allocation for Divisions 4R, 4S and 4T comes in part from the basic allocation granted to Gulf fixed-gear fleets < 19.81 m, from a portion of the mobile-gear fleet allocation (246.7 t) transferred to inshore fixed-gear fleets, and from the carryover of quota from the residual 2025-2026 mobile-gear fleet allocation (57.0 t), in accordance with established sharing formulas.

For 2026-2027, the overall quota allocated to Quebec's three geographical fleets corresponds to 1 660.7 t. The sharing of this quota therefore corresponds to :

• Quebec North Coast = 306.025 t (18.4277 %);
• Gaspe = 1 111.665 t (66.9401 %);
• Magdalen Island = 242.995 t (14.6322 %).

Any additional allocations to Quebec fixed-gear fleets will be shared according to these same percentages.

 6.2 Administrative guidelines of the ITQ program

The administrative guidelines of the ITQ program for the Atlantic Halibut fixed gear fleet under 19.81 m from Magdalen Islands are included in the Regional guideline for the management of ITQ, available on the DFO Quebec Region website.

6.3 Temporary transfers

No temporary transfers are permitted.

6.4 Permanent transfers

No permanent transfer requests will be treated during the Atlantic halibut fishing periods for the Magdalen Islands fleet.

6.5 Quota reconciliation

Under quota reconciliation, any quota overrun in a given year, whether within an ITQ regime or in a competitive fishery, is deducted on a one-to-one basis from the established quota for the following season.

Reconciliation will take place over several years if the overrun in a given year exceeds the initial amount allocated for the following year. Following quota reconciliation, a licence holder with a negative revised quota will not receive licence conditions and therefore will not be allowed to participate in the fishery during the current management year.

 

In the implementation of quota reconciliation, the Ministry compiles the final fishing data at the end of the groundfish management year, i.e. May 14. Similarly, in the month following this date, the Ministry makes the necessary adjustments to the current year's quotas, taking into account any overruns of competitive quotas and ITQs, if applicable.

 

For fishing under the ITQ system, it is the license holder’s responsibility to respect the quantity allocated to him, taking into account his landings. Prior to the departure of a fishing expedition, the license holder must hold the quota necessary to cover the catches that are likely to be made during that trip

 

Quota reconciliation facilitates the management of all fisheries and promotes compliance with harvest limits. It contributes to the achievement of resource conservation objectives, ensures that quota overruns by one fleet or fisher does not impact others, and holds industry accountable for conservation objectives.

 

6.6 Permanent Licence Cancellation

Failure by the licence holder to comply with the revised quota may result in the permanent cancellation of the fixed gear groundfish licence issued to him.

6.7 Carry-over of quotas

On an individual basis, the carry-over of residual Atlantic halibut quotas from the 2025-2026 management year is authorized in 2026-2027, up to a maximum of 15% of the initial quota established at the beginning of the management cycle that began on May 15, 2025.

7. Catch management

7.1 Characteristics of authorized catches

The minimum commercial size for Atlantic halibut is 85 cm.

7.2 Discarding Incidental Catches

The license holder and fishing vessel operator are authorized to forthwith return into the water where they were caught, in a manner that causes them the least possible harm, if they are still alive:

• dogfish, Lumpfish, Sculpin, Atlantic hagfish and Atlantic wolfish.

All catches of Atlantic halibut less than 85 cm and skate must be returned to the water immediately. When live fish is returned to the water, it must be handled in a manner that causes it the least harm possible.

Incidental catches of Shark

It is allowed to retain incidental catches of Blue sharks in accordance with the terms specified in the licences conditions. All other shark species must be released in a manner that causes it the least harm.

7.3 Bycatch Protocols

By-catch is determined by dividing the round weight of the by-catch species by the round weight of the target species.

The authorized groundfish by-catch limits per fishing trip in NAFO Divisions 4R, 4S and 4T are :

• cod 4T : the greater of 15% or 25 kg per fishing trip;
• cod 4R and 4S : the greater of 30% or 45 kg per fishing trip;
• White Hake : 5 % per fishing trip;
• Greenland halibut : 3% per fishing trip;
• Blue shark : The lesser of 10% or 500 kg. At the time of landing and weighing, at least a portion of the tail fin must be attached to the shark's carcass. Also, the pelvic fins (the paired fins adjacent to the cloaca or “vent”) must be intact and attached to the carcass;
• 10% per fishing trip for all other groundfish species not listed above.

If bycatch limits per fishing trip are exceeded, the fishery may be closed and legal proceedings may be initiated.

7.4 Small Fish Protocol

The minimum size of fish relative to the small fish protocol is :

• Atlantic halibut: 85 cm;
• Greenland halibut: 44 cm;
• Yellowtail flounder: 25 cm;
• White hake: 45 cm;
• Cod: 43 cm;
• American plaice: 30 cm;
• Witch flounder: 30 cm;
• Winter flounder: 25 cm;
• Redfish: 22 cm;

Areas may be closed to fishing for certain sectors of the fleet when the number of undersized fish reaches 15% of catches of any of the above species.

7.5 Catch monitoring and test fishery

Small fish and bycatch closures are for a minimum duration of 10 days. The cost of conducting test fisheries is borne by the industry. If a fishery is closed, it will not reopen until DFO feels that it can be effectively monitored and controlled. If a fishery is closed twice during the same year because of high levels of small fish or incidental catch, the fishery may remain closed for the remainder of the year.

8. Fishing Gear

The authorized fishing gear is the longline.

8.1 Number of Authorized Fishing Gear

The number of hooks authorized varies according to the revised quota (after reconciliation or carry-over) held by the licence holder:

• 0 to 1185 kg : 700 hooks;
• 1186 kg to 1500 kg : 1050 hooks;
• 1501 kg to 3500 kg : 1500 hooks;
• 3501 kg and more : 2000 hooks.

 

It is prohibited to have more fishing gear on board the vessel than the maximum allowed for fishing under the revised QIT held.

8.2 Characteristics of Fishing Gear

Longline hooks must have an opening equal to or greater than 15.4 mm.

8.3 Soaking duration

It is the responsibility of the licence holder to ensure that the soak time of the fishing gear does not exceed 72 hours.

8.4 Gear marking

The minimum requirements regarding the number and position of colour markings are details in the Conditions of licence. Please refer to the Notice to Fish Harversters of August 14, 2020.  

 

In addition to the regulatory requirement to mark buoys with the vessel registration number (VRN), licensees must add a sequential number to each main buoy in order to be able to individually identify each fishing gear.

 

8.5 Requirement to Report Lost and Retrieved Gear

The licence holder and fishing vessel operator must report any loss or recovery of fishing gear. Reports regarding the loss or recovery of gear must be submitted to DFO through the online Fishing Gear Reporting System or by completing and submitting the Loss Fishing Gear Form or the Retrieval of previously reported lost fishing gear form, witch are available online and attached to the Conditions of licence.

9. Marine Mammal interaction Reporting

 

Licence holders and fishing vessel operators must provide information regarding all interactions with a marine mammal that occur during fishing expeditions in accordance with the Conditions of Licence. To do so, the licence holder and fishing vessel operator must complete the section reserved for that purpose in its ELOG or the marine mammal interaction form available on the Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting page and attached to the Conditions of licence, and it must be submitted as per the instructions provided on the form.

In addition, if you observe a dead or distressed animal, please contact Marine Mammal Emergencies as soon as possible at 1-877-722-5346. If possible, do not hesitate to take photos or videos that will allow DFO to assess the situation and identify the species.

10. Fishing Activities Declaration and Monitoring

 

10.1 Hail out

Hail-out are mandatory for all participants.

Licence holders are required to contact the DFO hail-out system before 19:00 the day before each fishing trip.

10.2 At-Sea Observer

The industry-funded at-sea observers program applies based on a minimum coverage of 10% of the fishing trips.

The licence holder must have an agreement in place with a DFO-accredited and designated company prior to the beginning of a fishing trip.

If an individual or a fleet is suspected of discarding groundfish at sea, in addition to other regulatory options including fishery closures and legal proceedings, at-sea observer coverage may be increased.

The list of accredited and designated companies is available on the DFO website: Commercial fishery requirements - Regional List of Qualified and Designated Companies.

10.3 LogBook

Licence holder must keep a true record of their fishing activities and catches in their Combined form or in their Electronic logbook in accordance with theirConditions of licence.

10.3.1 Combined form/LogBook

Fishermen must acquire their booklet of Combined Forms from a supplier prequalified by DFO, complet it in accordance with the instructions provided in the document, and provide it to the dockside observer, or to any other person designated by DFO, at the time of landing.

The logbook portion of this form must be properly completed each fishing day before docking.

10.3.2 Electronic logbook

The use of an electronic logbook (Elog) is optional in 2026-2027. Fish harvesters must use a client application approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the Quebec region for the form  ELOG – Logbook – Groundfish. Furthermore, fish harvesters must have obtained and installed their Elog Key in their client application in order to allow data transmission to the Department.

The Elog must be completed for each fishing expedition and “closed” before arriving at port. A fishing expedition means a voyage that commences at the time a fishing vessel leaves a port to engage in fishing and terminates at the time fish caught during that period are offloaded. Hence, when a fisher goes back to port for a reason other than for offloading fish and leaves port again, the fishing expedition goes on until fish are offloaded.

To consult the list of client applications approved by the Department and to obtain your Elog Key, visit Fisheries and Ocean’s web page at the following address: Electronic logbooks (ELOGs)

To request a modification to data that has been transmitted to Fisheries and Oceans, you must communicate with the client support service at 1-877-535-7307.

10.3.3  Recording of interactions with Winter Skate

When fishing in NAFO subdivisions 4T5 and 4T7, all interactions with Winter Skate while fishing for Atlantic halibut must be accurately recorded in the “comments” section of the logbook.

10.4 Dockside Monitoring

The Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) is mandatory for 100% of landings.

Prior to the start of a fishing trip, licence holders must have entered into an agreement with a dockside monitoring company legally designated by DFO

Landings must be made at one of the designated ports appearing on list Designated Dockside Monitoring Ports.

Additional information on designated ports is also available on the of ports for small boats.

When using an Electronic Logbook, you must communicate your unique Electronic Logbook Identifier to the Dockside Monitoring Company before hail in and also provide it to the dockside observer.

10.4.1 Re-embarkation of Fish

Licence holders who land their catch in a designated port located outside Groundfish Fishing Subdivision 4T2a are authorized to re-embark fish on board the fishing vessel in order transport it to a designated port within Groundfish Fishing Subdivision 4T2a. The re-embarked fish will be subject to a second dockside monitoring at the time of the second landing.

11. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

Vessels must be equipped with an active vessel monitoring system (VMS) approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Each licence holder must register his DFO-approved VSM unit prior to the beginning of his fishing activities. Data transmission every 5 minutes is required.

The current list of DFO-approved VMS units and the procedure and form to register a VMS unit are available at National Vessel Monitoring System page.

12. Specific Provisions Applicable to the Fishery

12.1 Characteristics and Use of Boats

Vessels with an overall length (LOA) less than 15,24 m may be used.

12.2 Buddy-up

Buddy-up agreements involving up to three licence holders on board the same fishing vessel are permitted. The number of hooks allowed for buddy-up arrangements equal to a) to the total number of hooks allowed to the licence holder with the highest revised ITQ, plus b) 50% of the hooks authorized to the additional licence holders.

Buddy-up agreements are valid for the duration of the fishing period for which the Conditions of licence are issued, either for Period 1 (summer-fall) or for Period 2 (spring).

Landings are accounted for on a prorata basis according to the respective revised ITQs.

Licence holders benefiting from a buddy-up agreement will be jointly responsible for any violation committed during fishing activities resulting from their agreement, if applicable.

12.3 Conversion Rate

The conversion rate from eviscerated Atlantic halibut weight to round (whole) fish weight is 1.14. The conversion rate of head off gutted Atlantic halibut weight to round (whole) fish weight is 1.25. The round weight is the weight before any treatment.

12.4 Simultaneous fisheries

The simultaneous fishing of Atlantic halibut with any other groundfish species is prohibited.

13. Species At Risk Act

Pursuant to the Species at Risk Act, no person shall kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell or trade an individual or any part or derivate of a wildlife species designated as extirpated, endangered or threatened.

At the time this Conservation Harvesting Plan is promulgated, the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence species susceptible to being captured are the following: the Spotted Wolffish, the Northern Wolffish, the Leatherback Turtle, the Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River population) and the White Shark (Atlantic population). New species could be added during the course of the year.

All incidental captures of species at risk must be immediately returned to the water where they were captured and, if the animal is still alive, in the manner that causes it the least harm. All incidental captures of species at risk must be recorded in the « Species at Risk » section of the logbook. Furthermore, all interactions with species at risk, notably the North Atlantic Right Whale, the Blue Whale (Atlantic population), the Beluga Whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population) and the White Shark (Atlantic population), must be recorded in this section of the logbook.

These requirements are additional to any obligation to declare an interaction with a marine mammal using the prescribed form (see section Marine mammal interaction reporting).

14. Crew registry

All independent core licence holder and their approved substitute designated operators must keep records of all the crew members working aboard the vessel on every fishing trip in accordance with its Conditions of licence. This requirement does not apply to pre-1979 corporation licence holders, midshore licence holders nor to any holder of a licence issued under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations. For further details, refer to the March 17th, 2021 Notice to fish harvesters, New inshore regulations or contact the Customer support at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

15. Discharge of waste

The licence holder and fishing vessel operator are prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters from their vessel any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat. Please refer to the following Notice to Fish harvesters : New condition of licence relating to discharge of garbage.

16. Conditions of licence

To obtain their Conditions of licence, fish harvester must request them through the National Online Licensing System. For National Online Licensing System assistance, please contact customer support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

 

Note: in the event of a discrepancy between the French and English versions of the CHP, the French version shall prevail.

Approved by :

Maryse Lemire

Fisheries Management Regional Director

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec

For any question regarding this CHP You may call at 

 

Magdalen Island area : 418-986-2095

For additional information

Please visit our Fisheries web page (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).