Tracadie, New Brunswick (NB) – June 23, 2025 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the Gulf New Brunswick (GNB) Bluefin tuna fleet Conservation and Harvesting Plan (CHP) for the 2025 fishing season.
The total interim available Bluefin tuna allocation for 2025 is 39.845 metric tons (mt). This consists of the initial 2025 Bluefin tuna allocation for the GNB fleet of 38.651 mt, to which is added the uncaught quota of 2024 of 1.194 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, 2025. The fishery will remain open until December 31, 2025 or until the quota is harvested, whichever comes first.
For the purpose of tag distribution in 2025, 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 2025, subject to the GNB fleet and DFO approval. Details are described in the CHP.
In order 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 23, each licence holder will have to identify the vessel that will be used, the fishing area where they will fish and advise if they intend to fish in pooling. 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 online licensing system.
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.
NEW IN 2025
Tuna tag(s) payment
Starting in 2025, tuna tag fees must be paid exclusively through the Gulf Region’s National Online Licensing System (NOLS), in the same way as license renewals. Payments will not be accepted in person or by phone.
Hail-out / Hail-In period
When fishing in Divisions 4RST, the hail-out period during the bluefin tuna fishery is modified in 2025 from 3 hours to 1 hour. This change will provide fishermen greater flexibility in planning their fishing activities. Please note that this authorization is a one-year pilot and will be reviewed at the end of the season.
When fishing in Ex-Sector, the hail-in time for the bluefin tuna fishery is reduced from 2 hours to 1 hour.
REMINDER - Logbooks
Fishermen are to use the new version of the tuna logbook implemented in 2023 as the old version is no more valid and will not be accepted.
Mackerel Bait
For the 2025 season, all Atlantic 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.
All shark species, including the Blue sharks, shall be released in the water.
Management measures in place for the 2025 fishing season
Temporary transfers of quota between licence holders
Temporary transfers of individual allocations between licence holders will be authorized in 2025. Details are described in the CHP.
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: 2025 fishery management measures.
Telephone numbers for the hail-out requirement
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.
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 contact the DFO « Just Talk » hail-out system call center at 1-902-426-0005 six hours prior to departure for any fishing trips.
For all other applicable measures, please refer to the CHP.