June 24, 2026
Application
This Conservation and Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to the Gulf New Brunswick (GNB) fleet Atlantic Bluefin tuna licence holders fishing in Gulf home waters and Ex-sector waters.
This plan provides management measures that apply to the GNB fleet only. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) regulations, which apply to all the fleets, are not mentioned and are part of the fishing conditions. The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Management Plan also contains management measures applicable to all fleets.
Fishing Areas
The fishery is authorized in Gulf home waters (4RST and 4Wd), and in Ex-sector waters (3LNO, 4VsW, 4X and 5, with the exception of 4Wd).
Licence holders can choose to fish Atlantic Bluefin tuna in the fishing area of their choice. They will have to notify DFO of the chosen area before receiving their licence conditions.
Fishing Season
The dates of the Atlantic Bluefin tuna season in Canadian waters changed in 2019. Fleets annual allocations must be fished over a 12-month period beginning on June 24th and ending on June 23rd of the following year.
However, as agreed upon on April 20, 2026 by GNB fleet members, the fishery for the GNB fleet in Home waters and Ex-sector waters will begin on July 1, 2026. The fishery will remain open until the quota is harvested or until December 31, 2026, whichever comes first.
Quota
The Canadian share of the quota available for the GNB fleet is 44.904 mt, to which is added the uncaught quota of 2025 of 1.139 mt, which is equivalent to 10% or less of the initial quota received by the fleet in 2025. The Mexican quota will be announced if and when available. Therefore, the available interim quota for the GNB fleet for 2026 will be 46.043 mt. The final allocation will be confirmed later.
Any uncaught quota of 10% or less of the initial quota received by the fleet in 2026 (not including any carry forward amounts from 2025 or transfers received in season) will be carried over to the GNB fleet quota for 2027. Any amount above this level will be rolled into the 2027 Canadian quota.
Any quota overrun that occurred in 2026 will be deducted from the GNB fleet allocation for the following fishing season, in accordance with the quota reconciliation guidelines.
Quota Sharing
The total allocation of Atlantic Bluefin tuna for the GNB fleet will be divided into individual shares among the 89 licence holders of the fleet as described in the enclosed Administration List of Individual Shares (see Annex 1).
Quota Reconciliation
Any total overrun made by the GNB fleet will be deducted from the fleet’s allocation of the following year.
Reissuance of Licence
Subject to the Rationalization Plan for the Bluefin Tuna Commercial Fishery of the Gulf New Brunswick Fleet implemented on March 8, 2017, any new participant receiving a Bluefin tuna licence by reissuance will receive the basic share allocated to fishers without any Bluefin tuna fishing history, which is the smallest share allocated to a licence at the moment of the reissuance.
Any remaining allocation from the reissuance will be equally shared between all licence holders of the same group (commercial licence holders or Aboriginal Organizations).
Quota Transfers
Temporary Quota Transfer Between Licence Holders
Temporary transfers of allocations between licence holders will be authorized in 2026.
Individual allocation shares from the Mexican allocation will only be transferred once its related Mexican allocation is paid.
Licence holders interested in transfers are required to contact Marco Morency by phone at (506) 395-7705 or by email at Marco.Morency@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Permanent Individual Share Transfers Between Licence Holders
Permanent individual share transfers are authorized subject to criteria established in the Rationalization Plan for the Bluefin Tuna Commercial Fishery of the Gulf New Brunswick Fleet.
No permanent individual share transfer will be authorized during the tuna fishing season.
Fleet to Fleet Temporary Quota Transfer
Temporary quota transfers between fleets will be permitted in 2026, subject to DFO approval.
Temporary quota transfers between fleets are permitted by the GNB fleet to receive quota from another fleet only and are subject to the fleet and DFO's approval. For each quota transfer requested, a specific CHP must be developed by industry and approved by DFO.
Quota received by transfer will be added to the individual allocation of each licence holder as specified in the CHP submitted. Landings will be accounted for in the following order: landings will be first registered under the GNB individual allocation until this quota is reached. All subsequent landings will be accounted to the quota received by transfer. Any balance of quota from individual allocations will automatically be transferred to the quota received by transfer.
Unused quota received by transfer from another fleet will have to be returned to the initial fleet no later than December 31, 2026, subject to DFO approval and in accordance with quota reconciliation guidelines.
Tags
Tuna tags will be allocated based on the average weight of tuna in each fishing area. The average weight is determined by considering the average weight of tuna landed during the last three fishing seasons for each fishing area. For the 2026 fishing season, the average weight for each fishing area is established as follows:
- Gulf home waters (4RST and 4Wd): 238 kg (525 lbs)
- Ex-sector: 238 kg (525 lbs)
Licence holders that do not have a sufficient amount of individual allocation to receive a tuna tag may create a pooling arrangement with one/several other licence holder(s) to receive a tuna tag or receive additional quota by temporary transfer.
Licence holders who have chosen to combine their individual allocation in order to participate on the draw of tags held by the Maritime Fishermen’s Union (MFU) on August 14, 2017 will receive 19 tags in 2026. Details on the tag distribution can be found in Annex 2. Additional tags could be available if and when the Mexican quota is announced.
Pooling arrangements
Pooling arrangements between GNB licence holders fishing in the same area are authorized, meaning that one or many licence holders will be permitted to combine their individual allocation and use the same vessel. Licence holders that choose to have a pooling arrangement will have to be on board the vessel. Pooling arrangements will have to be established and communicated to DFO before receiving their licence conditions.
All pooling arrangements are subject to the vessel rules enclosed in the present CHP.
Vessels
All GNB licence holders fishing Bluefin tuna or wishing to permanently or temporarily replace the vessel attached to the Bluefin tuna licence must use a vessel that has been registered for at least the last 12 months within the ENB Area, Gulf Region. Commercial licence holders fishing in partnership are also subject to this requirement.
All new vessel attached to an Atlantic Bluefin tuna licence are subject to the replacement rules for inshore vessels of the Commercial Fishery Licensing Policy for the Gulf Region.
Aboriginal Organizations can designate vessels and operators of their choice.
Other Management Measures Included in Licence Conditions
Hail-Out
Licence holders fishing in Divisions 4RST area are required to contact DFO Vessel Hail System « Answer 365 » at 1-833-699-2013 or 1-506-431-3223 (satellite phone only) at least 1 hour before departing for each fishing trip. A “Hail-Out” may be made up to 7 days prior to leaving port to go fishing.
Hail-In
Licence holders are required to hail-in to a Dockside Monitoring Company (DMC) immediately after a Atlantic Bluefin tuna has been caught OR such period of time as agreed upon with the DMC when no tuna has been caught.
Information to provide is described in licence conditions. Note that all Hail-In automatically cancel the previous Hail-Out.
Dockside Monitoring
100% dockside monitoring is required for the Atlantic Bluefin tuna commercial fishery.
Logbooks
Logbooks are mandatory for all vessels participating in the Atlantic Bluefin tuna commercial fishery. Fishermen are to use the new version of the tuna logbook implemented in 2023 as the old version is invalid and will not be accepted.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document
Pursuant to section 61 of the Fisheries Act, the licence holder/operator is required to complete an Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document that is available from DFO.
If the licence holder decides to sell his catch directly onto the retail market (i.e. restaurant), he must also enter the required information on the “electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Documentation” (eBCD) system monitoring of Atlantic Bluefin tuna catches before December 31, 2026.
Dart Tags
All Atlantic Bluefin tuna captured shall be tagged immediately after the fish is caught. A fish is considered caught when the fish is brought next to the vessel and includes swimming it to cool it down. The tag used shall be either a temporary dart tag or a permanent DFO issued tuna tag. If a dart tag is used, a valid permanent DFO tag must be affixed once the fish is killed, and prior to the tuna being landed and monitored. License holders must record and pair all dart tag numbers on the "Record of Tags" log sheet (Annex II) provided inside the DFO tag package.
Licence holders can obtain dart tags from the MFU.
Dart tags are non-transferrable.
Prohibition of Tail Cut
Until the fish has been offloaded, the removal of flesh from an Atlantic Bluefin tuna between the second dorsal fin and the tail, and the removal of the tail are not permitted. Only an incision made between the second dorsal fin and the tail for the sole purpose of bleeding the fish is permitted.
Electronic Monitoring System (camera)
Participants may be required to use an onboard electronic monitoring system (video camera). DFO will be responsible for the installation of the system at no cost to the licence holder.
Fishing Gear
Licence holders are authorized to use angling gear, tended lines or electric harpoon. While fishing for Atlantic Bluefin tuna, a maximum of 4 lines shall be used of which no more than 2 lines shall be tended lines. There shall only be one hook attached to each line.
Greenstick fishing is allowed.
Mackerel Bait
For the 2026 season, all Atlantic Bluefin tuna rod and reel/tended line licence holders are permitted to catch and retain 20 live mackerels per fishing trip for bait purposes in the commercial fishery. Licence holders are allowed to retain the unused ones aboard or attached to the vessel. This will be reflected in conditions of licence.
By-catch
All shark species, including the Blue sharks, shall be released by cutting the line as close as possible to the hook and returning it to the place from which it was taken, in a manner that causes it the least harm.
Marine Protected Area
On March 6, 2019, DFO implemented the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (MPA) to protect and conserve its marine ecosystem.
Provisions of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations apply to the licence holder/operator. In order to comply with them, please refer to the clauses that apply to your fishing activities. Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations.
Protection of Marine Mammals and North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW)
Requirement to report interactions with marine mammals
In order to comply with the implementation of the US Marine Mammals Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, licence holders must provide information regarding all interactions with a marine mammal including: bycatch, collisions and all sightings of entangled marine mammals that occur during fishing expeditions.
The licence holder or operator must complete and submit the DFO Marine Mammal Interaction Form (available online and attached to the licence conditions) following the instructions provided on it.
Mandatory vessel speed reduction
Protection measures including a map of areas subject to speed reductions are available at the following Internet address : Protecting North Atlantic right whales from collisions with vessels in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Ex-sector Fishery (3LNO, 4VsW, 4X and 5, with the exception of 4Wd)
The maximum limit of 35 mt for the Ex-sector fishery will remain in place.
Licence holders should ensure that proper agreements with DMCs are in place for this fishing area prior to the fishing season.
Hail-Out and Hail-In Requirements
All requirements on Hail-Out and Hail-In are included in licence conditions.
By-Catch
Licence holders fishing in the waters of the Ex-sector are authorized to catch and retain an incidental catch of Bigeye, Yellowfin and Albacore tunas while fishing for Atlantic Bluefin tuna.
Marine Protected Areas
DFO implemented the St. Ann Bank MPA (SOR/2017-016) and the Gully Marine Protected Area (SOR/2004-112) to protect and conserve its marine ecosystem.
Provisions in Regulations apply to licence holders. In order to comply with them, please refer to the clauses of Regulations that apply to your fishing activities and to their respective descriptions included in your licence conditions.
Annex 1
Administrative List of Individual Shares - Gulf New Brunswick Bluefin Tuna Fleet
| Surname | First Name | Licence ID | Individual Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLANCHARD | GUY | 014294 | 2.380 |
| BOUDREAU | MICHEL | 017352 | 0.344 |
| BRANSFIELD | LAWRENCE | 018517 | 0.679 |
| LANTEIGNE | JIMMY | 010685 | 0.344 |
| CHIASSON | JONATHAN | 007739 | 0.344 |
| CHIASSON | NICHOLAS | 004965 | 0.344 |
| COMEAU | KEVIN | 004059 | 0.344 |
| COOL | PIERRE-ALEXANDRE | 004061 | 0.344 |
| CORMIER | MARIO | 021107 | 0.344 |
| DEAN | GORDON EDWARD | 027236 | 1.154 |
| DEGRACE | ROBERT | 008351 | 0.344 |
| DOUCET | GLEN | 023091 | 3.091 |
| DOUCET | RANDY | 021035 | 3.801 |
| DOUCETTE | SOPHIE | 004137 | 2.269 |
| FRASER | THOMAS | 008546 | 0.344 |
| GALLANT | SIMON MARCEL | 005162 | 1.273 |
| GAUDET | LUCAS | 026863 | 0.344 |
| GAUVIN | CHRISTIAN | 005802 | 0.344 |
| GIONET | YVES | 008264 | 0.344 |
| GREGAN | MATTHEW | 006305 | 1.534 |
| HACHE | DENIS | 023518 | 2.878 |
| HACHE | ELDON | 003262 | 0.344 |
| HACHE | GAETAN | 008497 | 1.869 |
| HEBERT | CHRISTOPHER | 014126 | 0.344 |
| HEBERT | KEVIN | 008110 | 0.344 |
| JONES | RICHARD | 006879 | 4.000 |
| KING | GERALD R | 003591 | 0.344 |
| LANTEIGNE | PIER-LUC | 014400 | 0.344 |
| LANTEIGNE | RAYMOND | 019321 | 1.489 |
| LAROCQUE | STÉPHANE | 010989 | 0.344 |
| LECOUTER | CLAUDE | 005526 | 1.482 |
| LIRETTE | CHARLES | 027053 | 2.534 |
| MACEACHERN | JAMES | 021068 | 1.154 |
| MARTIN | GERMAIN | 006937 | 1.534 |
| MAZEROLLE | GILBERT | 016476 | 4.000 |
| MCINTYRE | THOMAS R | 027688 | 2.534 |
| MCINTYRE | ALBERT JR | 027052 | 3.296 |
| MCINTYRE | DALE | 024759 | 3.296 |
| NOEL | GABRIEL | 015789 | 0.344 |
| NOEL | LEVI | 019560 | 0.344 |
| NOEL | MARCEL | 019291 | 0.344 |
| PELLERIN | VALERIE | 004471 | 0.344 |
| PERRY | KARSON | 006302 | 0.344 |
| PLOURDE | MARIO | 019572 | 0.344 |
| RICHARD | RAYMOND | 027706 | 1.154 |
| RICHARD | ELMO | 012900 | 1.068 |
| RICHARD | MARCEL JOSEPH | 007495 | 3.990 |
| SAVOIE | DONALD | 008399 | 0.344 |
| SAVOIE | MARCEL GUY | 027135 | 0.344 |
| SCOFIELD | LOUIS | 010293 | 0.344 |
| STEWART | RÉMI | 003280 | 0.344 |
| STEWART | JAMES | 011605 | 2.141 |
| STEWART | JOHN | 011348 | 0.616 |
| STRIGHT | SHAWN A. | 012279 | 0.344 |
| TRENHOLM | TONY | 008453 | 3.679 |
| VIBERT | DARYL | 005101 | 0.344 |
| STEWART | BRUCE | 012349 | 0.616 |
| Organization | Licence ID | Individual share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| NEW BRUNSWICK ABORIGINAL PEOPLES COUNCIL | 003978 | 1.100 |
| BOUCTOUCHE FIRST NATION | 009915 | 1.100 |
| EEL RIVER BAR FIRST NATION | 020186 | 0.575 |
| EEL RIVER BAR FIRST NATION | 007545 | 0.575 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 017296 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 004173 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 003715 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 026809 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 006312 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 012823 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 024618 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 020134 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 017802 | 1.100 |
| ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION | 008309 | 1.100 |
| ESGENOOPETITJ FIRST NATION | 026721 | 0.575 |
| ESGENOOPETITJ FIRST NATION | 024683 | 0.575 |
| ESGENOOPETITJ FIRST NATION | 008851 | 0.575 |
| ESGENOOPETITJ FIRST NATION | 021051 | 1.100 |
| ESGENOOPETITJ FIRST NATION | 017501 | 0.575 |
| ESGENOOPETITJ FIRST NATION | 007198 | 0.575 |
| INDIAN ISLAND FIRST NATION | 006826 | 1.100 |
| INDIAN ISLAND FIRST NATION | 003960 | 1.100 |
| INDIAN ISLAND FIRST NATION | 006728 | 1.100 |
| INDIAN ISLAND FIRST NATION | 019764 | 0.575 |
| INDIAN ISLAND FIRST NATION | 027697 | 1.100 |
| INDIAN ISLAND FIRST NATION | 019537 | 0.575 |
| PABINEAU FIRST NATION | 014081 | 0.575 |
| PABINEAU FIRST NATION | 027094 | 0.575 |
| SAINT MARY'S FIRST NATION | 024746 | 1.480 |
| SAINT MARY'S FIRST NATION | 018567 | 1.100 |
| SAINT MARY'S FIRST NATION | 014095 | 1.480 |
| TOBIQUE FIRST NATION | 003237 | 1.100 |
Annex 2
MFU’s Draw List for Tuna Tags - GNB Bluefin Tuna Fleet
August 14, 2017: The following list will be used to determine the eligibility of participants to receive a tuna tag. The list will be valid until MFU request otherwise.
| No. | Name | Year of issuance | Eligible in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donald Savoie | 2017-2019-2021-2022-2024-2025 | Yes |
| 2 | Michel Boudreau | 2017-2019-2021-2022-2024 | Yes |
| 3 | Mario Plourde | 2017-2019-2021-2022-2024 | Yes |
| 4 | Stéphane Larocque | 2017-2019-2021-2022-2024 | Yes |
| 5 | Christian Gauvin | 2017-2019-2021-2022-2024 | Yes |
| 6 | Gérald R. King | 2017-2019-2021-2022-2024 | Yes |
| 7 | Rémi Stewart | 2017-2019-2021-2022-2024 | Yes |
| 8 | Jimmy Lanteigne | 2018-2019-2021-2023-2024 | Yes |
| 9 | Lucas Gaudet | 2018-2019-2021-2023-2024 | Yes |
| 10 | Marcel Guy Savoie | 2018-2019-2021-2023-2024 | Yes |
| 11 | Kevin Hébert | 2018-2020-2021-2023-2024 | Yes |
| 12 | Pier-Luc Lanteigne | 2018-2020-2021-2023-2024 | Yes |
| 13 | Gabriel Noël | 2018-2020-2021-2023-2024 | Yes |
| 14 | Jonathan Chiasson | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2024 | Yes |
| 15 | Pierre-Alexandre Cool | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | Yes |
| 16 | Eldon Haché | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | Yes |
| 17 | Kevin Comeau | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | Yes |
| 18 | Mario Cormier | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | Yes |
| 19 | Louis Scofield | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | Yes |
| 20 | Valérie Pellerin | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | Yes |
| 21 | Levi Noël | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | No |
| 22 | Christopher Hébert | 2018-2020-2022-2023-2025 | No |
| 23 | Marcel Noël | 2019-2020-2022-2023-2025 | No |
| 24 | Yves Gionet | 2019-2020-2022-2023-2025 | No |
| 25 | Thomas Fraser | 2019-2020-2022-2023-2025 | No |
| 26 | Nicholas Chiasson | 2019-2020-2022-2024-2025 | No |
| 27 | Robert DeGrâce | 2019-2020-2022-2024-2025 | No |
| 28 | Shawn Stright | 2019-2021-2022-2024-2025 | No |
| 29 | Daryl Vibert | 2019-2021-2022-2024-2025 | No |
| 30 | Karson Perry | 2019-2021-2022-2024-2025 | No |