Antigonish, Nova Scotia (NS) – August 1, 2025 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada announces that the Atlantic halibut fishery will open for Gulf Nova Scotia (GNS) fixed-gear licence holders, using vessel class A69 in the portions of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Division 4T known as 4T1, 4T8, 4T2b and the southern portion of 4T2a enclosed by rhumb lines joining the following points in the order in which they are listed below:
| Point | Latitude (North) | Longitude (West) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47º40'00'' | 60º35'02,1'' |
| 2 | 47º40'00' | 63°18'55,76" |
| 3 | 47°33'00" | 63°26'42" |
| 4 | 47°30'00" | 63°30'00" |
| 5 | 46°50'00" | 61°32'00" |
| 6 | 47°00'00" | 61°21'24" |
| 7 | 47º09'00'' | 61º10'00'' |
| 8 | 47º40'00'' | 60º35'02,1'' |
Preliminary landings from the second Summer fishery opening are approximately 15 t, leaving 28 t remaining available for the GNS Atlantic halibut Summer fishery.
This fishery will take place from 05:00 hrs Tuesday, August 5, 2025 to 20:00 hrs Thursday, August 7, 2025. Landings will be monitored and the length of opening(s) and fishing areas may be modified due to quota remaining after each opening.
As noted in the Spring Notice, the number of hooks that may be used or on board the vessel are authorized by the licence conditions, up to a maximum of 3,000.
Replacement vessels or vessel transfers will only be authorized from another fisher whose homeport is in the GNS administrative area.
Should portions or all of 4T1, 4T8, 4T2a or 4T2b close due to the North Atlantic right whales (NARW) dynamic closure protocol, Atlantic halibut fishing for the vessel class A69 will be permitted but it will be mandatory to closely attend fishing gear as identified in the conditions of licence.
Fishers are reminded that during the period where fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the licence 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.
2025 Management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic right whales
The Management measures to minimize interactions with NARW can be found at the following address: 2025 fishery management measures.