Notices to Fish Harvesters

Gaspé – May 13, 2025

Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region announces the opening of the Atlantic halibut fishery for the following fixed gear fleets under individual transferable quotas (ITQ) in the Gaspé Peninsula: Gaspé Longliners group, Others group 13.71 m and over, Others group under 13.71 m, AMTG group and the turbot fisher group.

Fishing will be authorized from May 15, 2025 at 05:00 (EDT).

Interim total allowable catch (TAC)

As announced in the Notice to harvesters of April 30, 2025 concerning the establishment of an interim TAC of 2,466 tonnes, the initial interim allocation for the Atlantic halibut fishery for the Gaspé fleets is 643.928 tonnes (excluding any temporary quota transfers from the mobile-gear fleets to the inshore fixed-gear fleets and calculated before quota reconciliation and the carryover of uncaught quota, where applicable). Quota allocation will be made in accordance with the permanent sharing agreement, between the 13.71 m and over fleet and the under 13.71 m fleet, i.e. 63.5% : 36.5% respectively.

Conservation harvesting plan

Until the official TAC is announced and the 2025-2026 Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) published, the CHP for the 2024-2025 season approved on May 10, 2024 is renewed.

The boat rental clause has been revised. It authorizes boat leasing between the various Atlantic halibut fishing fleets under 13.71 m and over 13.71 m, subject to the Directive on Vessel Replacement Rules. This clause is effective immediately.

Closure areas

Please note the following changes to the closing zones for the 2025-2026 season:

• Atlantic halibut fishing authorized in 4T8;
• the permanent closure of the Greenland halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R waters less than 200 metres (109.4 fathoms) deep;
• the temporary closure of the Greenland halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4S waters less than 200 meters (109.4 fathoms) deep. 

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 additional information

Contact your area office at the telephone number below.

You can also visit our website. 

Julie Bernier

Resource management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Gaspé (Québec)

Gaspe- Lower North Shore area: 1-877-898-5559