Notices

Tracadie (NB), Charlottetown (PEI), and Antigonish (NS) - October 14, 2026 Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing that the fall fishery for rock crab in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 will open at 7:00 am on October 19th, 2026, and will remain open until November 27, 2026 inclusively. DFO wishes to remind fish harvesters to take extra care when navigating on the opening day of the rock crab fishery as vessels are loaded with gear and traps. Harvesters are encouraged to act diligently in setting their traps and should ensure that vessels are loaded safely by reducing the quantity of gear if necessary.

All management measures announced in the Notice to Fisher Harvesters dated June 24, 2026, remain in effect. For more information: Marco Morency Resource Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Tracadie, NB 506-395-7705 Marco.Morency@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PEI 782-377-2235 Derrick.Cummiskey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Leana Braid Resource Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Antigonish, NS 902-870-7320 Leanna.Briad@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

2026 Scallop Conservation Harvesting Plan for Scallop Fishing Area (SFA) 24 Charlottetown, PEI and Antigonish, NS - October 14, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the opening date and management measures for the scallop fishery in SFA 24, for 2026. Fishing season: The fishery will open 06:00 on Monday, November 2nd, 2026 and close at 17:00 on Wednesday, December 16, 2026. There will be daily closures each day from 17:00 to 06:00 the following day and the fishery will be closed all day on Sundays.

Furthermore, it is reminded that, during the period where fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the license holder to take into account the marine safety notices issued, among others, by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada, as well as the standards and best practices in marine safety, and to take all measures to ensure a safe fishery. New in 2026: Elog and Hail Out: As announced in a seperate Notice to Fish Harvesters, the use of an electronic logbook (Elog) and Hail out are mandatory starting in 2026 for all active scallop license holders in Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

These new requirements apply to all commercial and communal commercial license holders in SFA 21, 22, 23 and 24. Please refer to the following Notice to Fish Harvesters for more information: https://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/en/node/20558 https://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/en/node/20560 Meat count - reduced from 52/500 grams to 47/500 grams. Daily open time - reduced from 12 hours to 11 hours - The fishery will open daily from 06:00 to 17:00 (except closed on Sundays) Maximum number of fishing days per license holder for the season: 25 days.

Days will be counted based on hail-outs. If you have an active hail out and do not leave port, please be sure to cancel your hail. Any hail out that remains in effect will count as a fishing day.

Vessel transfers - a vessel previously used under an SFA 24 license with a hail out can not be transferred to another SFA 24 license in the same year. The following management measures will remain in effect for the 2026 fishing season. Further details are available in the scallop license conditions: Washers: A maximum of two (2) steel washers may be used to join each side of the rings together, giving a maximum of eight (8) steel washers per ring.

In addition, one rubber washer may be used vertically to join two (2) bucket rings together. The maximum outside diameter of rubber washers must not exceed 50.8mm. Furthermore, chaffing gear on the underside of the drag will be allowed when the rings are joined only with steel washers.

Ring size: The authorized ring size in the bucket construction is set at 82.6mm (3 1/4 inches) with the exception of the first row of rings attached to the bucket frame, where the inside diameter of all rings shall not be less than 76.2mm (3 inches). Drag size: Maximum width of 5.08m outside measurements. Offloading requirements: License holders are not authorized to land (off-load) any other part of the scallop except for the adductor muscle (no roe or other internal organs of the scallop may be retained).

Mandatory reporting of interactions with marine mammals: Any accidental contact between a marine mammal and a vessel or fishing gear must be reported. Buffer zones: All existing buffer zones remain in place for the protection of lobster habitat and the ecosystem. Notes - DFO has received support from several industry representatives on increasing the ring size in the coming years.

This will be discussed further at the advisory meeting in 2027. For more information: Chris Mills Cheif Resource Management Department of Fisheries and Oceans Charlottetown, PEI (902) 940-1437 Chris.Mills@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Leanna Braid Resource Management Officer Department of Fisheries and Oceans Antigonish, NS (782)641-4023 Leanna.Braid@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DELAY OF THE FOURTH HALIBUT OPENING Charlottetown, PE - October 8th, 2026 Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - Gulf Region wishes to inform harvesters the fourth halibut opening, orginally scheduled for October 13 to October 16, 2026 has been dalayed until 4:00hrs, 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. For information: Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management, PEI Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PEI (782) 377-2235 Chris Mills Resource Management, PE Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PEI (902)940-1437

Moncton, New Brunswick - October 7th, 2026 Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces an extension of the herring fall gishery in Herring Fishing Area 16G. This decision was made following a request from industry. The fishery will close no later than at 15:00 Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) on October 16, 2026 or when the allocation is reached.

The current license conditions remain valid. For more information: Chris Mills Fisheries Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PE (902) 940-1437 Julien Cormier Fisheries Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Moncton, NB (506) 377-5563 Alan Dwyer Fisheries Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Antigonish, NS (902)318-1460

2026 - Closure of the herring fall fishery for Group B of Herring Fishing Areas 16C and 16E Moncton, New Brunswick - September 21st, 2026 Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the closure of the herring fall fishery for Group B (Prince Edward Island harvesters) in Herring Fishing Areas 16C and 16E. This decision was made following consultation with stakeholders, as the Group B allocation has nearly been reached. The fishery will close effective at 19:00 Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) on September 21, 2026.

Notice to Fish Harvesters 16F Herring - 2026 Fall Herring Fishery Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) wishes to advise the 2026 16F fall herring fishery Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is 2,072 t. The fall fishery will open at 18:00 hours on Sunday, September 13, 2026 until 12:00 hours on October 9, 2026 or until the quota is harvested, whichever comes first. In 2026, daily closures will again be implemented for the fall fishery from 12:00 hours to 18:00 hours in addition to weekend closures for all weekends while the fishery is open.

Fall weekend closures: 1. 12:00 hours Friday, September 18 to 18:00 hours Sunday, September 20 2. 12:00 hours Friday, September 25 to 18:00 hours Sunday, September 27 3. 12:00 hours Friday, October 2 to 18:00 hours Sunday, October 4 The fishing depth restriction of 50 feet in a portion of 16F will again be implemented by Conditions of License in 2026. Hail Out - Fishers must hail out at least 1 hour before departing for each fishing trip as per the Conditions of License in 2026. Electronic Logbook (ELOG) - The voluntary use of an ELOG for Gulf Region harvesters is authorized again in 2026.

Additional information is available on the following website: Electronic logbooks (ELOGS) https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/sdc-cps/nir-nei/elog-index-jbe-eng.html Furthermore, it is reminded that during the period when fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the license holder to take into account the marine safety notices issued, among others, by Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as the standards and best practices in marine safety, and to take all measures to ensure a safe fishery. Harvesters must refer to the conditions of license for compliance requirements.

Based on preliminary data, bait landings for Atlantic mackerel personal-use bait fishery are 337 tonnes. This represents over 72% of the second 466.67-tonne quota. As landings are nearing the second portion of the fishery, a notice to pause fishing on August 20 at 12:00 PM (Atlantic) is attached for your reference.

Notice to Stop Fishing Atlantic Mackerel Bait Tranche 2 Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be pausing the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in all Mackerel Fishing Areas as of 12:00 PM (Atlantic Daylight Time) on August 20, 2026. This notice to stop fishing is for conservation purposes as landings are nearing the second 466.67-tonne portion of the total allowable catch (TAC). For harvesters with a multi-species bait license, please refer to your conditions of license.

The third opening for the 2026 mackerel bait fishery is planned for early October and will be communicated separately. Todd Williams Chair - Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Committee

PEI Commercial Eel Fishery Charlottetown, PE - August 5th, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - Gulf Region wishes to advise eel license holders, that the commercial eel fishery in Prince Edward Island will open on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 at 6:00 am and will remain open until Sunday, October 25th, 2026 at 6:00 pm. All other 2025 management measures will remain the same for the 2026 season. For more information: Derrick Cummiskey Resource Management Officer Fisheries and Oceans Canada 782-377 2235 Derrick.Cummiskey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Chris Mills Chief Resource Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PEI

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.