Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI) – June 23, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the fisheries management measures for PEI groundfish fixed-gear licence holders operating vessels less than 13.1716 metres (45 feet) in overall length who have registered to participate in the Atlantic Halibut fishery in 2026.
Individual Allocation
The Atlantic Halibut allocation for the PEI fixed-gear fleet in 2026 will be 125.328 metric tonnes (t). Based on the number of registered participants, an individual catch limit of 401kg round weight will apply. To convert dressed (head on, gutted) weight to round weight, multiply dressed weight by 1.14.
Season Dates
In 2026, the PEI Atlantic Halibut fishery will consist of four openings of four days each, from Tuesday to Friday, for each opening or until the quota is caught. The openings will occur July 6 to 9, July 21 to 24, September 15 to 18 and October 13 to 16.
During each opening, fishing will be permitted from 4 a.m. until 4 p.m. Licence holders are not permitted to leave port until 2 a.m. on the day of an opening and must return to port by 6 p.m. the last day of the opening.
The Atlantic Halibut fishery will close when the quota nears zero metric tonne or the quota is reached. If more than 10% of the quota remains after the fourth opening, a list of eligible licence holders will be created and the quota redistributed based on the individual catch limit.
Groundfish Fishing Areas 4T5 and 4T7
DFO has authorized halibut fishing in areas 4T5 and 4T7 effective May 15, 2026.