Notices to Fish Harvesters

 MACKEREL – AREAS 15 AND 16 – GULF OF ST-LAWRENCE

2026

Subject: Opening of the third fishing period of the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery

Quebec – September 21, 2026

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the opening date of the third and last fishing period of the 2026 mackerel bait fishery, which will be effective on October 3, 2026.

A quota of 466.67 tonnes will be available, representing the third and final portion of this fishery announced by the Department on July 3, 2026. For additional information, please refer to the DFO News Release.

As a reminder, the management measures in place for this fishery are listed below.

MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Authorized fishing gear

A maximum of 3 gillnets of a maximum total length of 50 fathoms with a minimum mesh size of 69.85 mm and maximum mesh size of 73.025 mm OR a maximum of 6 handlines and 36 hooks total.

Maximum daily limit

The maximum daily limit of mackerel that fish harvesters can catch and retain is 454 kg (1 000 lb) in total.

Minimum size

In accordance with subsection 48(1) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, fish for, buy, sell or have in their possession any mackerel that is less than 26.8 cm in length. This does not apply to :

• mackerel caught with gill nets;
• mackerel less than 26.8 cm in length that are caught incidentally while fishing for longer mackerel, where the number retained during a single fishing trip does not exceed 10% of the number of larger mackerel caught and retained during that trip.

Hail-out

A mandatory hail-out is required for all fish harvesters participating in the mackerel bait fishery.

Hail-in

A mandatory hail-in is required for all fish harvesters participating in the mackerel bait fishery. An accurate catch estimate must be provided before entering port.

Electronic logbook

The use of the Electronic logbook is mandatory. Fish harvesters must use a client application approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and must have obtained and installed their Elog Key in their client application in order to allow data transmission to the Department.

Fishing restrictions

It is strictly forbidden to sell, trade or barter any fish caught under the authority of a bait licence.

Other measures

For other management measures, please refer to the Conditions of licence. Eligible licence holders who wish to participate in this fishery can obtain their Conditions of licence through the National Online Licensing System.

For additional information :

https://inter-l01-uat.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/infoceans/

Mathieu Pellerin

Resource management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec region

418-572-9957

Mathieu.Pellerin@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Magdalen Islands area: 418-986-2095

North Shore area 1-800-463-1729

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