Tracadie, New Brunswick (NB) – July 27, 2026 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the management measures for the rock crab fishery in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 23 in 2026.
Fishing Season
The fishing season in LFA 23 will open at 5:00 a.m. on August 3, 2026 and will remain open until November 14, 2026. DFO wishes to remind fish harvesters to take extra care when navigating on the opening day of the fishery as vessels are loaded with gear and traps. Harvesters are encouraged to act diligently in setting their traps and should ensure that vessels are loaded safely by reducing the quantity of gear if necessary.
New in 2026
Mandatory electronic logbooks
The use of electronic logbooks (ELOG) is mandatory. This requirement applies to all harvesters fishing under a commercial, communal commercial and community licence. Harvesters who are not active for an entire season are not required to purchase an ELOG application. For more information on ELOG, please visit: Electronic logbooks (ELOG).
Harvesters must download an ELOG application from an approved developer: Qualified electronic logbooks (ELOG) client applications.
Please refer to the Notice to fish harvesters issued on February 24, 2026: 2026 - Mandatory Electronic Logbooks for the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in the Rock Crab and Scallop Fisheries.
European green crab
A new management measure coming into effect this year allows European Green Crab incidentally captured in rock crab traps to be used as bait, subject to certain conditions. This management measure is intended to support control efforts and limit the spread of this invasive species through fishing activities. Please refer to your licence conditions for further details.
Other management measures in place for the 2026 fishing season
Gear Marking: Gear marking is in place in this fishery. Details of these requirements can be found in your licence conditions and at the following Internet address: Notice to Fish Harvesters: Update to the conditions of licences related to the mandatory colour scheme for gear marking in Eastern Canada.
Management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic right whales: The management measures to protect the right whales are available at the following Internet address: 2026 fishery management measures.
Biodegradable mechanisms: The use of biodegradable mechanisms on all traps is mandatory. Please refer to your licence conditions for specifications on these biodegradable mechanisms.
Data entry: The licence holder is responsible to enter into an agreement with a Dockside Monitoring Company for data entry of catch and effort information; a condition to this effect is included in all licences.
Dockside Monitoring Program: All of the catch must be weighed in kilograms at one decimal point on an approved scale.
Number of traps: 100 traps
Individual catch limitation: 35,000 kg
Minimum size: Only male rock crab may be retained. No rock crab that is less than 102 mm in carapace size (width) may be retained.
Fishing territory located outside the LFA 23: Fishers who would like to fish outside LFA 23 (west of Dalhousie Wharf) must communicate with their Licensing Centre at 1-855-634-2355 to request a modification to their licence conditions.
DFO will continue to apply the exploitation principle that prioritizes the rock crab fishery as follows: by-catch in the lobster fishery, bait for the lobster fishery and then directed rock crab fishery.