Moncton, (NB) and Quebec (QC) – June 20 2025 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the opening of the redfish fishery in Unit 1 (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 4RST, 3Pn4Vn from January to March) for groundfish licence holders using mobile gear from the Gulf and Quebec regions in the inshore (vessels under 19.81 m), midshore (vessels from 19.81 to 30.48 m, with the exception of groundfish enterprise allocation (EA) holders) and Estuary and Gulf shrimp harvesters fleets.
Fishing with any type of otter trawl with a minimum mesh size of 90 mm (cod-end and lengthening piece) will be authorized as of June 24 at 00:01 a.m. (EDT).
The following area restrictions are in effect:
- In Divisions 4ST, fishing is prohibited west of the 65th meridian west (65° 00’ 00” W) at all times.
- In Division 4R, fishing is prohibited in the area east of the 59th meridian west (59° 00’ 00” W), unless an at-sea-observer is present on board the vessel during fishing activities.
- In Division 4T, fishing is prohibited in the area bounded by the coast and the rhumb lines connecting the following points with the following coordinates, unless an at-sea observer is present on board the vessel during fishing activities:
1. 49° 12’ 50.40″ N 65° 00’ 00.00″ W
2. 49° 25’ 01.20″ N 65° 00’ 00.00″ W
3. 49° 25’ 00.22″ N 64° 39’ 57.64″ W
4. 49° 07’ 42.00″ N 63° 47’ 19.00″ W
5. 48° 58’ 22.00″ N 64° 12’ 48.00″ W
6. 48° 54’ 35.03″ N 64° 00’ 42.29″ W
7. 48° 45’ 23.17″ N 64° 10’ 05.59″ W
- With reference to the Notice to Fish Harvesters issued on June 20, 2025, fish harvesters are asked to take note of a modification made to the area closure established in Division 4T to limit bycatch by fleets using mobile gear during directed fishing activities for redfish. Accordingly, directed fishing for redfish is prohibited at all times in the area bounded by the rhumb lines joining the following coordinates, in the order listed:
1. 49° 07’ 42″ N 63° 47’ 19″ W
2. 48° 36’ 44″ N 62° 16’ 49″ W
3. 48° 16’ 28″ N 62° 16’ 49″ W
4. 48° 22’ 10″ N 62° 55’ 02″ W
5. 48° 32’ 45″ N 63° 15’ 23″ W
6. 48° 50’ 13.3″ N 64° 00’ 48.9″ W
7. 48° 58’ 22″ N 64° 12’ 48″ W
1. 49° 07’ 42″ N 63° 47’ 19″ W
- Redfish fishing, including midwater trawl fishing, also remains prohibited in the eleven coral and sponge conservation areas established in the Estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
Please note that bycatch caps for cod in 3Pn4RS, white hake in 4T, and cod in 4TVn have been established to guide the management of redfish fishing in Unit 1. Once the bycatch limit(s) for a fleet/sub-fleet is reached, DFO will assess whether it is possible to reallocate additional bycatch quotas. If not, redfish fishing in Unit 1 could be closed in one or more NAFO divisions for the affected fleet/sub-fleet for the remainder of the fishing season.
The use of the electronic logbook (ELOG) is mandatory for all holders of inshore and midshore licences (with the exception of groundfish EA licences). All management measures, including allocations and bycatch caps applicable to each fleet/sub-fleet and other restrictions, are detailed in the Unit 1 Redfish CHP for mobile gear fleets under 30.48 meters from the Gulf and Quebec regions, approved on June 20, 2025.
Licence Conditions
A licence holder participating in competitive redfish fishing in Unit 1 may fish under only one fleet allocation at a time and must hold valid licence conditions for fishing under that allocation. To obtain licence conditions, fish harvesters must access the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) and submit their request at least three days before the start of their fishing activities.
For assistance with the NOLS, please contact customer support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.