Notices to Fish Harvesters
Notice to fish harvesters : Mackerel - recrational fishery-Areas 15 and 16 - Gulf of St-Lawrence 2025-2026
Subject: Management measures of the Atlantic mackerel recreational fishery
Québec – May 7, 2025
The Minister has announced new management measures for the Atlantic Mackerel recreational fishery for 2025 and 2026.
Please be advised that when fishing recreationally for Atlantic mackerel, the following management measures are now in effect:
1) No minimum size requirement when fishing Atlantic mackerel recreationally:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada will issue a Variation order to modify the minimum size for possession of Atlantic mackerel from 26.8 cm, as outlined in Section 49.01(b) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, to 0 cm in length. This means that recreational harvesters can retain any size fish caught up to their daily possession limit of 20 mackerel without discarding large numbers of undersized fish that have a high mortality rate after release.
2) Reduction in the gear allowance to 1 line and 3 hooks when fishing Atlantic mackerel recreationally:
The gear allowance which authorize recreational fishing with a maximum of 5 lines with 6 hooks each, as outlined in Section 49.01(d) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, is now changed to a maximum of 1 line and 3 hooks to reduce effort in the recreational fishery.
These measures have been put in place to limit the dead discard of mackerel measuring under 26.8 cm. Removing the minimum size will allow harvesters to fish and retain 20 mackerel without contributing to excessive mortality from discards, and therefore support rebuilding of the stock.
The authorized fishing period remains unchanged, from April 1 to December 31 annually.
For additional information :
You can obtain additional information on recreational fisheries on our website at the following address: Recreational fisheries
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