Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI) – June 18, 2026 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announces that the 2026 Prince Edward Island (PEI) catch and release Bluefin tuna season will open July 1, 2026 and end on October 31, 2026.
2026 Management Measures
- Management measures remain unchanged from the 2025 season and are reflective of the National Guidelines for the Bluefin tuna catch and release fishery.
- DFO would like to remind fishers of the requirement to fill out a log sheet after each fishing trip and to submit the log sheets weekly to the DFO Area Office as per the instructions on the licence conditions. This information is mandatory for our science reporting obligations to International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
- Fishers are also reminded to forward a copy of any recent Transport Canada certification (blue decal) renewals to Derrick Cummiskey at the DFO PEI Area Office (contact information below) as this is a requirement for licence issuance.
Derrick Cummiskey
Resource Management, Gulf Region
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Charlottetown, PEI
(782) 377-2235
derrick.cummiskey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Mackerel Bait
Licence holders are permitted to catch and retain 20 live mackerel per fishing trip for bait purposes. This will be reflected in conditions of licence.
Hail Out
The licence holder/operator must contact DFO's contracted Vessel Hail System “Answer 365” at 1-833-699-2013 or at 1-506-431-3223 (satellite phone only) at least one (1) hour before departing for each fishing trip.
Required Training
Mandatory training on safe fish handling is required for fishers to take part in this fishery. During 2023, DFO undertook training for the existing Catch and Release fisher fleet. New fishers who have yet to do this training must register with DFO for the required training. DFO will coordinate and administer the training for these fishers. Licence conditions will only be issued once the training is complete.