Moncton, New-Brunswick (NB) – June 19, 2025 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gulf Region, announces the 2025 management measures for Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25. NEW changes have been made following industry recommendations for Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 in 2025. Please refer to your lobster licence conditions for further details. The licence conditions will be available on the National Online Licensing System at a later date.
In making this decision, DFO considered key factors based on the best available science, existing regulatory frameworks, recommendations from industry stakeholders, safety at sea and socio-economic considerations. For the 2025 season, greater flexibility in management measures has been introduced to support these goals. This approach continues to uphold the objective of sustainable resource use while ensuring balanced fishing opportunities for fish harvesters operating in Lobster Fishing Area 25.
NEW for 2025
5-Year Schedule for season opening dates
DFO announces a 5-year schedule of pre-determined season opening dates for the lobster fishery in LFA 25 from 2025 to 2029. This initiative aims to provide greater predictability for fish harvesters, processors, and other related sectors, allowing for improved planning as well as pre-season preparation. Weather calls will remain a key requirement to ensure safe openings and may lead to slight variations of those dates.
| Year | Opening Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Monday, August 11th |
| 2026 | Monday, August 10th |
| 2027 | Monday, August 9th |
| 2028 | Tuesday, August 8th |
| 2029 | Tuesday, August 7th |
The season opening date in LFA 25 is set for August 11th 2025 at 6:00 a.m. The last day of the fishing season is October 12. The opening of the fishery is subject to weather conditions. If the lobster season opening is delayed, the season could be shifted one day for one day at the end of the season, up to a maximum of 4 days.
No fishing on setting day
As implemented in 2024, there will be no fishing on opening day in 2025; activities will be limited to trap setting only.
Increase minimum height of escape mechanism in 2026
Effective in 2026, the minimum required height of the escape opening for traps with an opening length between 127 mm and less than 254 mm will increase from 44 mm to 45 mm.
Mandatory electronic logbook (ELOG)
As announced on October 17, 2024, the use of an electronic logbook (ELOG) will be mandatory in 2025. This requirement applies to all commercial and commercial communal harvesters fishing lobster in LFA 25. The use of paper logbooks will no longer be accepted.
Fish harvesters must purchase and use an ELOG application approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Qualified electronic logbooks (ELOG) client applications.
DFO provides lobster harvesters with the following information:
- Harvesters must select the Gulf Region when registering their ELOG for lobster in LFA 25.
- The following reporting requirements which were previously reported through alternate forms must now be reported through the ELOG application:
- Interactions with a marine mammal
- Interaction with a species at risk
- Reports of lost gear or retrieved gear must be submitted to DFO by completing the section reserved for that purpose in the ELOG or by using the Fishing Gear Reporting System available online at: Fishing Gear Reporting System. However,
- if gear is declared lost after closure of the ELOG, it must be reported by using the Fishing Gear Reporting System available online.
- if previously lost gear is retrieved after closure of the ELOG, it must be reported by using the Fishing Gear Reporting System available online.
More information on ELOGs is available at the following links:
- The following newsletter, issued in April, contains additional details on specific ELOG fields: 2025 - Gulf Region Electronic Logbooks (ELOGs) Newsletter: Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Lobster
- Electronic logbooks (ELOGS)
- Mandatory Electronic Logbooks (ELOGs) in 2025 for the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Snow Crab and Lobster Fisheries
For any additional questions regarding the National ELOG program, please contact DFO at 1-877-535-7307 from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 21:00 (Atlantic Standard Time) excluding holidays.
Experimental pilot project - retention of striped bass bycatch in lobster fisheries
Please note that the small-scale experimental pilot project launched last year in LFA 25, allowing striped bass bycatch retention in lobster fishery, will be maintained this year. This will enable the Department to collect a wider range of data on the prevalence, distribution, condition and composition of striped bass caught in lobster traps. Please see Notice to Fish Harvesters: 2025 - Experimental Striped Bass Bycatch Pilot Project in the Gulf Region Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25.
Management measures for the 2025 fishing season
Carapace size: The minimum lobster carapace size will be 79 mm in LFA 25 in 2025.
Curfew: The daily close time is from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., including the first 48 hours of the fishing season. There is no curfew during the last 48 hours of the fishing season.
Management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW): The 2025 fisheries management measures to protect NARW are posted online at the following link: Fishery notices related to North Atlantic right whales.
Restrictions on the movement of lobster licences: For information on restriction on the movement of lobster licences you can refer to the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Gulf Region that can be found at the following link: Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for the Gulf Region.
Transit Corridors: The transit corridors in LFA 23 and LFA 24 remain in effect and a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required (every 5 minutes) if using the transit corridor. The corridor allows fish harvesters to transport their catches through that area to reach their homeport avoiding the use of the smack boat. The opening and closing of the season will remain as indicated in the Fisheries Regulations or as announced in a Variation Order. The coordinates for the corridor are identified in the Variation Order and the licence conditions of those using the corridor.
Administrative area |
Minimum legal carapace size (mm) | Maximum size females (mm) | Maximum number of traps | Minimum number of traps per line | Maximum hoop size (mm) | Minimum size (mm) of escape mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward Island (PEI) | 79 | 115 | 250 | N/A | 152 | 44 x 127 or 43 x 254 |
| New Brunswick (NB) | 79 | 115 | 250 | N/A | 152 | 44 x 127 or 43 x 254 |
| Gulf Nova Scotia (GNS) | 79 | 115 | 225 | N/A | 152 | 44 x 127 or 43 x 254 |
Before you go fishing:
DFO has assembled a list of requirements and documents harvesters will need before they start fishing. This list is available at: Before you start fishing, you will need.