Notices

MACKEREL UPDATE FROM DFO: As of July 7, 2026, the preliminary data indicates approximately 475.3 tonnes (t) of Atlantic mackerel have been landed, which is 101.8% of the first portion of the mackerel bait fishery (466.67 t). A notice to pause fishing on July 8 at 12:00 PM (Atlantic) is attached for your reference, Click on the following link to view the notice: http://peifa.org/members/docs/Notice 2026 AMAC July 8 closure .pdf

NARW CLOSURE UPDATE – July 6th, 2026 - The latest DFO North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) Notice to Fishers (#31) noting a new NARW sighting inside the 10-fathom line within LFA 25. Click on the link to view the notice: http://peifa.org/members/docs/NARW closure 31.pdf The closure was announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on July 8th, 2026 at 5PM in full grids *HE33, *HE34, *HF33 and portion of grid(s) HE35, HF34, HF35, HG33, HG34, HG35. A few notes on the protocol as confirmed by DFO today: ⚫️ A temporary fishing prohibition protocol is triggered in shallow waters when a single NARW is confirmed by either visual or acoustic detection.

Exclusive to shallow waters only, the temporary fishing prohibitions are in force for a period of 7 days from the date of the NARW detection, including the gear removal period. ⚫️ The 7-day period starts on the day of detection. Day 1 is Friday, July 3rd for the whale sighted in LFA 25. If there are no more NARW sightings within a 7-day timeframe then the fishing prohibition grids will reopen on Friday July 10th.

If another NARW is seen within the 7-day timeframe, then a fishing prohibition extension of another 7 days is triggered. Seasonal closures do not apply in shallow water management areas. ⚫️ FOR THE HALIBUT LONGLINE FISHERY, FISHING CAN OCCUR INSIDE THESE NARW FISHING PROHIBITION GRIDS IF GEAR IS TENDED. During gear removal phase, when fishers lift their gear, if putting back in the water, they will need to tend it.

Here is the link to the 2026 shallow water protocol (inside waters less than 20-fathom for more info): https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/atl-arc/narw-bnan/2026/0326-eng.html#annex-3

For the full Notice to Fishers - 2026 Scallop Fisheries Management Plan - SFA 23, please click here. Mandatory Elogs for the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Rock Crab and Scallop Fisheries, for the Full Notice to Fishers, please click 2026 Gulf Region ELOGs Newsletter: Southern Gulf of St.

Lawrence Scallop Fishery, Scallop Fishing Area 22. For the full Newsletter, please click

CHANGE TO THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE LOBSTER FISHERY IN LOBSTER FISHING AREA (LFA) 24 Moncton, NB – June 15, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – Gulf Region wishes to inform harvesters that the last day of fishing for the lobster fishery in LFA 24 has changed from Sunday, June 28, 2026, to Monday, June 29, 2026. For the full Notice to Fishers, please click here.

Another North Atlantic Right Whale has been detected and will be impacting an area outside the 20-fathom line in Western LFA 24 fishery (Grids HD38, HD39, HD40). ***2026 NARW Update – Additional closures western LFA 24 – Updated June 9 th , 2026*** The closure, announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on June 11th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20-fathom line in the closure area. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time. No resetting of gear and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the DFO Notice is issued.

In other words, if you haul your gear, it must be moved. If you are inside the 20-fathom line, you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20-fathom line. DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter.

REMINDER: the Shallow water Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20-fathom line, so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website, when necessary, throughout the 2026 season. The image attached shows the location of whale closures set to commence on June 11th, 2026 5:00pm.

For the full DFO notice to fishers is attached, please click here.

The closure, announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on June 11th, 2026 at 5:00 PM DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20-fathom line in the closure areas. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time. No resetting of gear and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the notice is issued.

In other words, if you haul your gear, it must be moved since the closure was announced today. If you are inside the 20-fathom line, you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20-fathom line. DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter.

REMINDER: The Shallow Water Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20-fathom line, so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. The PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website when necessary, throughout the 2026 season. The image attached shows the location of whale closures set to commence on June 11th, 2026.

Full Notice can be found here.

If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibition(s) for the following grid(s) will be revoked on June 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.: Full grid(s) GS37, GS38, GT37, GT38, GW48, GW49, GY48, HE48, HE49, HF48, HF49, HF50, HG50 Portion of grid(s) GS36, GT36, GU36, HE50, HG48, HG49 If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibition(s) for the closure off North Lake will be revoked on June 1, 2026 at 5:00 pm. For the full Notice to Fishers, please click here.

The closure, announced yesterday, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on May 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20-fathom line in the closure area. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time. No resetting of gear and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the notice is issued.

In other words, if you haul your gear, it must be moved since the closure was announced yesterday. If you are inside the 20-fathom line, you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20-fathom line. DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter.

REMINDER: the Shallow water Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20-fathom line, so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. The PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website, when necessary, throughout the 2026 season. The image attached shows the location of whale closures set to commence on May 22, 2026, 5:00pm.

Full Notice can be found here:

If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibition(s) for the following grid(s) will be revoked on May 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.: If there are no new detections, the fishing prohibitions for the closure off North lake will be revoked on May 13, 2026 at 5:00am Full Notice to Fishers can be found by clicking here

***2026 NARW Update - First closure of 2026 - April 29, 2026*** North Atlantic Right Whales have arrived in the Gulf for the 2026 season, earlier than 2025 (first closure last year was May 20th, 2025). The whale was detected via a viking buoy that picked up the call of the whale. The closure announced today, with Fishing prohibitions to commence on May 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., DOES affect the PEI lobster fisheries if you are fishing deeper than the 20 fathom line in the closure area.

DFO is providing a 120 hour delay for the prohibited fishing grid(s) due to the weather forecast. All affected gear must be removed from the prohibited fishing area before the specified time, and no new gear is permitted to be set in the water after the notice is issued. If you are inside the 20 fathom line you do not need to make any changes as the whale is outside the 20 fathom line.

DFO has provided a .GPX file if you wish to upload the closure area on your plotter. REMINDER: the Pilot Project only takes effect inside the 20 fathom Line so it is mandatory to remove gear outside that line. The PEIFA will continue to keep a close eye on closures and share on Facebook and the website, when necessary, throughout the 2026 season.

Full Notice can be found by clicking this link and shows the location of whale closures set to commence on May 4th, 2026, 5:00pm.

DFO has issued a Notice to Fish Harvesters relating to the 2026 pilot project of striped bass retention in the lobster fishery. To participate in the pilot, fishers must request to participate through their NOLS account. Click the following Notice to view the details: http://peifa.org/members/docs/Lobster Notice to fish havesters - Striped bass bycatch pilot project 2026 EN.pdf