Notices to Fish Harvesters

uNotice to Fish Harvesters

ATLANTIC HALIBUT– 4RST –

FLEET WITH FIXED GEAR UNDER ITQ OF 13.71M AND OVER

GASPÉ– LOWER ST. LAWRENCE

SEASON 2026-2027

Subject: Opening of the Atlantic halibut fishery in Divisions 4R, 4S, and 4T for the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence fleet of vessels 13.71 meters and over, and announcement of fishery management measures.

Gaspé – May 14, 2026

Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region announces the opening of the 2026–2027 Atlantic halibut fishing season in Divisions 4R, 4S, and 4T for fleets of 13.71 meters and longer in the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence region, specifically for the Longliners Group and the Others Group:

• from May 15, 2026, at 5:00 a.m. (EDT) to October 31, 2026; and
• from April 1, 2027, at 5:00 a.m. (EDT) to May 14, 2027. 

The management measures are set forth in the 2026–2027 Conservation Harvested Plan (CHP), which was approved on May 12, 2026, and is available on our website.

The main changes to the CHP are outlined below.

Closure of the directed fishery for Greenland halibut

As announced on May 13, 2026, the directed commercial fishery for Greenland halibut is prohibited for the 2026–2027 season.

Quotas

The initial Atlantic halibut allocation for all fleets of 13.71 meters and longer in the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence region is set at 705,908 tons (t) for the 2026–2027 season. The distribution of this allocation between the two fleets in the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence region is detailed in the CHP and breaks down as follows:

• Others: 92,544 t (13.11%);
• Large longliners: 613,364 t (86.89%).

Closure of fishing areas

License holders and fishing vessel operators are authorized to fish for Atlantic halibut using fixed gear in NAFO subdivisions 4T5 (Shediac Valley) and 4T7. We encourage license holders and fishing vessel operators to review the specific details regarding this reopening in their conditions of licences.

Catch management

The allowed bycatch percentages for groundfish per fishing trip in NAFO Divisions 4R, 4S, and 4T are amended for the following species:

• Cod 4T: 15%
• Greenland halibut: 3%

Request for conditions of licences

To obtain the Conditions of License, harvesters must request them through 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.

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.

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)

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