Tracadie, New Brunswick (NB) – July 4, 2025 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada is announcing the fisheries management measures for the Eastern New Brunswick fixed-gear licence holders fishing Atlantic halibut in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Division 4T.
The opening for this fishery is scheduled to take place on July 7, 2025 from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. the same day. This period may be modified due to inclement weather or other uncontrollable circumstances. If conditions do not allow for a July 7, 2025 opening, industry will be consulted before a new date is announced.
The maximum number of hooks per licence holder is 250.
The Atlantic halibut allocation for the Eastern New Brunswick fixed gear fleet will be 190.152 metric tonnes (t) for 2025. This consists of an initial allocation of 205.740 t, less the 15.588 t overrun from the allocation of 2024. Any overrun of the 2025 allocation will be taken on a one-to-one basis from the 2026 allocation of Atlantic halibut assigned to this fleet.
For the proper management of the offloading of catches, dockside monitoring will only be offered at the following landing ports:
• Petit-Rocher
• Stonehaven
• Caraquet
• Miscou
• Ste-Marie/St-Raphaël
• Petit-Shippagan
• Pigeon Hill
• Shippagan
• Le Goulet
• Val-Comeau
• Tabusintac
• Neguac
• Escuminac
• Pointe-Sapin
• Cap-Lumière
• Aboiteau
These designated landing ports will be included in the conditions of licence.
Licence conditions will be available shortly in the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).
Groundfish Fishing Areas 4T5 and 4T7
The department has authorized halibut fishing in areas 4T5 and 4T7 for the 2025 season.
Bycatch of Gulf of St. Lawrence Groundfish Stocks subject to rebuilding plans
In accordance with the rebuilding plans for groundfish stocks in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO 4T and 4TVn), the inshore Atlantic halibut fleets from the Gulf region will be allocated 10.925 tonnes of 4T-Vn Atlantic cod and 3 tonnes of 4T white hake to cover bycatch during the fishery.