News & events

PEI Portion of Canadian Quota: 174,096kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012kg PEI Total Quota: 188,835kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 881 Total Quota Landed (kg): 167,412kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 21,423kg remaining Average Weight: 190kg Percentage of Quota remaining: 11.3%

SENT ON BEHALF OF TODD WILLIAMS, CHAIR, ATLANTIC MACKEREL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AMAC) This update is to inform you that preliminary landings for the personal-use bait fishery are at 237 tonnes. This represents nearly 51% of the third and final 466.67 tonne quota which opened on October 3. An additional update will be provided as landings approach the 75% threshold.

Notice to Fish Harvesters - Delay of 4th Halibut Opening Charlottetown, PE - October 9th, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - Gulf Region wishes to inform harvesters the fourth halibut opening, originally scheduled for October 13 to October 16, 2026 has been delayed until 4:00 hrs Tuesday, October 20 and will remain open until 16:00 hrs Friday, October 23, 2026. All other management measures for the fourth opening will remain unchanged. A reminder to fishers that previously issued license conditions have expired and to print off new license conditions.

New license conditions will be available in fisher's NOLS account by October 13, 2026. For more information: Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management, PE Fisheries and Oceans, Canada Charlottetown, PE (782) 377-2235 Chris Mills Resource Management, PE Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PEI (902) 940-1437

Top 12 Winners of the 2026 LFA 25 Post Lobster Season Gear Retrieval Project draw October 9th, 2026 The top 12 Captains from the draw results to be contacted asap to confirm their contract. If for some reason, any of those Captains decide not to participate in the retrieval contract/timeline, we will proceed to the next on the draw list. Draw # First Name Last Name 1 Jax Harper 2 Kenneth Griffin 3 James Cook 4 Bennett Howard 5 David Kennedy 6 Brittany Reilly 7 Chris Boulter 8 Michael Gallant 9 Spencer Ellis 10 Tanner Gaudet 11 Gary McRae 12 Joe Dorgan Here are the next Captains on the draw list that will only be contacted if one of the top 12 decide not to participate: 13 Kolton Gavin 14 Wilbert Shea 15 Blain Gavin 16 Kelly Hackett 17 Ray Gaudette 18 Jason Gallant 19 Michael Richard 20 Mark Arsenault

PEI Portion of Canadian Quota: 174,096kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012kg PEI Total Quota: 188,835kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 821 Total Quota Landed (kg): 156,728kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 32,107kg remaining Average Weight: 191kg Percentage of Quota Remaining: 17% For more information, please contact: Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management PEI Area Office Fisheries and Oceans Canada derrick.cummiskey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 782-377-2235

The Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association is seeking up to 12 Captains for the 2026 PEI LFA 25 Post-Season Gear Retrieval Program. Duties include assisting with various activities associated with gear retrieval including but not limited to visual spotting, retrieving and/or grappling for abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear. Gear spotting and gear retrieval plans will be prioritized by the PCFA/PEIFA following the season and relayed to the participants.

Captains will need to hold a valid LFA 25 lobster license and required to sign a contract with the PEIFA and provide proof of marine insurance as well as participate in a mandatory conference call with project coordinators prior to activities. Captains will be required to fill out basic log sheet information for each trip and for all gear spotted or retrieved. Payment for Captain/vessel is an all-inclusive rate of $250/hour (Maximum 10 hours per day) which includes fuel, crew wages (at least one crew plus Captain), etc within that rate.

In some instances, Captains may be required to be within 1 hour sailing distance from the designated hotspot areas and docking fees would be covered by the Captain in that instance. Each Captain would be anticipated to participate for approximately 3 days of work within a 2–3-week period following the LFA 25 season based on weather conditions, priorities and anticipated funding. More days may be issued if funding and priorities permit.

REGISTRATION DETAILS: Registration dates: Tuesday, October 6th to 12PM Noon, Friday, October 9th, 2026 Fee: No fee to register How to register: Online or by phone. The online link is www.peifa.org and click the tab “LFA 25 Gear Retrieval Project” under “Registrations” to enter registration information. To register by phone, call the PEIFA @ 902-566-4050 extension 1 or 2.

Please click the link for the registration: https://www.peifa.org/registrations Required information: Captain’s name, LFA 25 Lobster license number, Vessel Name, VRN, phone # and email. Draw: A draw of qualified applicants will be made if more than 12 Captains apply Registrations after 12 PM (Noon), October 9thth, 2026 will NOT be accepted. For more details on the requirements of the project, please visit www.peifa.org or contact Jennifer Dewland at 902-330-3580 or Laura Ramsay at 902-393-2281.

PEI Tuna Reallocation Update (September 23rd, 2026): As discussed with the PEIFA Tuna Advisory Committee, there will be 35 more tags issued to PEIFA members (#309 to #2 on the draw list inclusively). They will be available for pick up at the DFO Area Office in Charlottetown at 8AM on Thursday, September 24th. Possession of a bluefin tuna tag authorizes participation in the fishery but does not guarantee access to quota.

The fishery will close once the available quota has been harvested. New license conditions should be available in NOLS account the morning of Thursday, September 24. The fishery will re-open at Noon on the 24th.

For more information, contact DFO Chief Resource Manager, Chris Mills

2026 Atlantic Mackerel Bait Fishery - Third Opening Fisheries and Oceans Canada will re-open the competitive, personal-use Atlantic mackerel bait fishery on October 3, 2026 in all mackerel fishing areas. This opening will provide access to the remaining 466.67 tonnes allocated to the mackerel bait fishery for the 2026 season, representing the third and final portion of this fishery announcement by the Department on July 3, 2026. For additional information, please refer to the DFO News Release.

Participating harvesters will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs) to be fished by either gillnet or handline. Monitoring will be achieved using various measures, including a 100% hail-in requirement in all regions. Additional information related to conditions of license, will be available through the National Online Licensing System.

Todd Williams Chair Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Committee

PEI Portion of Canadian Quota: 174, 096 kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273 kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012 kg PEI Total Quota: 188,835 kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 590 Total Quota Landed (kg): 107, 268 kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 81, 566 kg remaining Average Weight: 182 kg Percentage of Quota remaining: 43.2 %

Reminder PEI Tuna Fishers: Deadline is 23:59hrs on September 22, 2026 to land your first tuna (land two tuna if in a pooling agreement with two license holders and land three tuna if in a pooling agreement with three license holders). New license conditions will be issued as soon as possible following the September 22nd deadline based on those fishers eligible to fish their additional tags. Any questions, contact DFO at: DFO.PEIRM-GDRIPE.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Reminder: Deadline is September 18th to provide input to DFO through their online questionnaire on the use, control and transfer of fishing licenses (Inshore Fisheries regulations and the Owner Operator policy). Click the link to access: https://questionnaire.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=A26DC3FA-4FDD-4560-A560-11F1040C76E1&fbclid=IwY2xjawUXnptwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Vsntl3EzfHzL_I3YbiU4B91EMAVziabwbsgfexZd7MTCra05o2I90oYoB2Q_aem_7EH95_3SmuzlxZWcaGgLDQ

The Campobello Whale Rescue team will be on PEI again this year sharing knowledge and experience for those interested in learning about what they do. Please see below for their schedule. "We're on our way for Dockside Chats!" Visit the Campobello Whale Rescue team on our 2026 Dockside Tour September 15 9AM North Lake Harbour 2PM Naufrage Wharf September 16th 9AM Covehead Wharf 2PM North Rustico Harbour

Below are the tuna landings as of September 10th, 2026 Bluefin Tuna Landings for PEI - September 10, 2026 PEI Portion of Canadian Quota: 174,096 kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273 kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012kg PEI Total Quota: 188,835 kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 542 Total Quota Landed (kg): 97,119.1 kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 91,715.9 kg remaining Average Weight: 179.2 kg Percentage of Quota Remaining: 48.5% Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management PEI Area Office Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Attention LFA 25 fishers: Just a heads up, CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier plans to be steaming through LFA 25 sometimes between Sunday, Sept. 6 to Monday, Sept. 7, as part of the 56th annual September science survey of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

They are not conducting any fishing tows where there is lobster gear, and are only on their way to the next stratum to continue their sampling. Please spread the word to fishers in your harbour.

The PEIFA is seeking up to 12 Silverside fishers for a potential striped bass bycatch retention pilot project in 2026. It is anticipated that participants will be able to catch, retain and sell striped bass bycatch during this project. You must be a PEI silverside fish harvester to apply.

Participants will be evenly distributed across the PEI silverside berth distribution. Draws of interested participants will be divided based on berth location (northside vs southside berths and East, Central and Western locations on PEI) to ensure even distribution. Limitations on size of bass to be retained, # of bass retained per participant, and the data collection required will be finalized with the approval of the DFO permit.

It is anticipated that participants will be able to retain bass throughout the silverside season (October 1st to December 31st) or until the individual catch limit is reached. All details on the pilot project are subject to DFO approval. Registration Dates/Times: 8:30 AM Friday, August 28th, 2026 to 4:30 PM Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 Location: Farm Centre, 420 University Ave, Suite 102, Charlottetown Fee: No fee for registration How to register: Fishers can register online at www.peifa.org by clicking the "Striped Bass Bycatch in the Silverside Fishery Pilot Project 2026" link under "Registrations" or contact the PEIFA Office to register by phone 902-566-4050 Extension 1 or 2, or in person.

Required information: Captain's Name, Phone #, Email, Silverside License #, Berth Location The draw will be held on September 8th, 2026 following the registration deadline. Interested individuals can find more details about the registration and the pilot project by visiting the website, www.peifa.org or contact Laura Ramsay @ 902-393-2281, laura@peifa.org or Melanie Giffin @ 902-330-4466 or melanie@peifa.org

Attention HFA 16G Fall Herring fishers: There is a new waiver to be signed for 2026 Overage Program (this applies to previous participants and new fishers). Note there are changes to the program this year, see waiver for more details. Please contact the PEIFA office asap 902-566-4050 extension 1 or 2 to get those signed and appropriate license conditions assigned.

Any questions or more info contact Laura 902-393-2281.

REMINDER: DFO Engagement Session Online (zoom link) and in person meeting @9AM, August 25th at the Holiday Inn Express in Charlottetown DFO Engagement session on inshore fisheries regulations in Atlantic Canada. Open to all members. DFO is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Inshore Regulations.

The Inshore Regulations (which can be found in Part III of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 and the Part I.1 of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations) guide licensing in the Inshore sector in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. The Inshore Regulations are rules that clarify who can hold a licence, who must do the fishing, and who can make decisions about the fishing. They prohibit anyone other than the licence holder from using or controlling the rights and privileges that are granted to the licence holder.

Bluefin Tuna Landings for PEI - August 20th, 2026 PEI Portion of Canadian Quota (Final): 174,810 kg Quota over-run from 2025: -3,273 kg PEI Portion of Mexican Quota: 18,012 kg PEI Total Quota: 189,549 kg Bluefin Tuna Landed: 282 Total Quota Landed (kg): 46,666 kg landed Total Quota Remaining (kg): 142,882 kg remaining Average Weight: 165.49 kg Percentage of Quota Remaining: 75.38%

Fish Harvesters are reminded that under the Atlantic Fisheries Regulations https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-21/page-3.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXie5wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5ZLJkrWZ_mzzYIfmq2kqxzzPYBFUgv4SmclTsMBGdCHPxTMb0FNfVoilKb4Q_aem_6zNlXQWxMXQEPLBqrJlwsA#h-891902 mackerel retained for bait in the Gulf Region must meet the minimum size requirement. Mackerel less than 26.8 cm in length may not be fished for, bought, sold, or possessed, subject to the exceptions outlined in subsections (2) and (4). 48 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4), a person shall not fish for, sell or have in their possession any mackerel that is less than 26.8 cm in length. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to mackerel that are less than 26.8 cm in length if (a) the catching of the mackerel was incidental to the catching of longer mackerel; and (b) the number of mackerel less than 26.8 cm in length retained during any one fishing trip does not exceed 10% of the number of longer mackerel caught and retained during the fishing trip. (3) For purposes of subsection (2), the percentage shall be determined on the basis of four or more samples taken from the catch, with each sample containing 50 or more mackerel. (4) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to mackerel caught with gill nets. Please contact your Conservation & Protection Officer for clarification regarding license conditions and/or fishing regulations.