Tracadie, New Brunswick (NB) – June 24, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the Gulf New Brunswick (GNB) Bluefin tuna fleet Conservation and Harvesting Plan (CHP) for the 2026 fishing season. Details of the CHP are provided in the attached document.
The total interim available Bluefin tuna allocation for 2026 is 46.043 metric tonnes (mt). This consists of the initial 2026 Bluefin tuna allocation for the GNB fleet of 44.904 mt, to which is added the uncaught quota of 2025 of 1.139 mt. Details regarding the Mexican quota will be announced at a later date. The list of individual allocations can be found in Annex 1 of the CHP. The final allocation will be announced in a subsequent Notice to Fish Harvesters.
The opening date for the Bluefin tuna season in Gulf home waters (4RST and 4Wd) and in Ex-sector waters is July 1, 2026. The fishery will remain open until December 31, 2026, or until the quota is harvested, whichever comes first.
For the purpose of tag distribution in 2026, the average tuna weight in Gulf home waters (4RST and 4Wd) and Ex-sector waters will be 238 kg (525 lb).
Fleet to fleet temporary quota transfers will continue to be permitted in 2026, subject to approval by the GNB fleet and DFO. Details are provided in the enclosed CHP.
To receive licence conditions and tags, licence holders are required to contact DFO at 1-506-395-7705. At the time of registration, starting on June 24, each licence holder is to identify the vessel that will be used, the fishing area where they will fish and advise if they intend to fish in pooling arrangements. Tuna tag(s) will be sent to the licence holders by Canada Post – Xpresspost three days per week (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday), and licence conditions will be available through the DFO national online licensing system (NOLS).
Catch and Retain Fishery - Since 2020, commercial licence holders conducting charter activities are authorized to use their initial individual allocation of tags to retain a Bluefin tuna with clients on board the vessel. Interested participants must contact the undersigned for additional information or to obtain a Tuna Catch and Retain Licence.
Marco Morency
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(506) 395-7705
Marco.Morency@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Management measures in place for the 2026 fishing season
Mackerel Bait: For the 2026 season, Bluefin tuna licence holders are permitted to catch and retain 20 live mackerels per fishing trip for bait purposes and to retain the unused ones aboard or attached to the vessel. This will be reflected in conditions of licence.
Temporary transfers of quota between licence holders: Temporary transfers of individual allocations between licence holders will be authorized in 2026. Details are described in the enclosed CHP.
Management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic right whales (NARW): The management measures to protect the NARW are available at the following Internet address: 2026 fishery management measures.
Telephone numbers for the Hail-Out requirement
Divisons 4RST: Licence holders fishing in the 4RST Divisions are required to contact the DFO’s contracted Vessel Hail System « Answer 365 » at 1-833-699-2013 or at 1-506-431-3223 (satellite phone only) at least 1 hour before departing for each fishing trip.
Divisions 4Wd and Ex-sector: Commercial licence holders fishing in Maritimes Region (Divisions 4VWX and 5, including 4Wd) are required to contact the DFO « Just Talk » hail-out system at 1-866-665-4451 six hours prior to departure for any fishing trips.
Indigenous groups fishing in the Maritimes Region (Divisions 4VWX and 5, including 4Wd) are required to obtain a hail-out call confirmation number from a Dockside Monitoring Company (DMC) designated by DFO for the Maritimes Region six hours prior to departure for any fishing trips. Please refer to the licence conditions for more details.
For all other applicable measures, please refer to the attached CHP.