Notices to Fish Harvesters
Opening for harp and grey seal_Areas 17, 18 and 19_Gaspé and Lower St.Lawrence_2026
Gaspé – January 12, 2026
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region announces the opening of the grey seal fishing (hunt) in zones 17, 18, and 19 for permit categories Q300 to Q322 and Q330 to Q332.
Please note that the grey seal hunting season will begin on January 15 at 6:30 a.m. (EDT). However, it is prohibited to fish (hunt) seals more than half an hour before sunrise or more than half an hour after sunset.
Fishing (hunting) will be open for the following periods in 2026 :
- Grey seal: open January 15 to february 15, 2026 and November 1 to December 31, 2026
- Harp seal: open from November 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026.
The management measures are available in the 2025-2026 Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) approved on December 16, 2026.
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
Gaspe- Lower St.Lawrence area: 1-877-898-5559