Regional Contacts

The Gulf Fisheries Centre (GFC) in Moncton NB is the Gulf Region’s headquarters. This structure was built in 1948 for the Collège Notre-Dame d’Acadie, a school for Acadian girls formed and run by Sisters of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur. It was the first post-secondary institution created for Acadian women within their own cultural context. It closed in 1965 and was entirely renovated in 1982. It officially opened again December 2, 1986, by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. On February 5, 1998, it received the Heritage Designation. Today, the GFC is home to one of two laboratories in Canada that specialize in shellfish health as well as offices for many DFO branches within the Gulf Region.

Gulf Fisheries Centre

For general information on the Gulf Region, questions or comments:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gulf Region
343 Université Avenue
P.O. Box 5030
Moncton, NB
E1C 9B6

Telephone: 506-851-6227
Fax: 506-851-2435
E-mail us at: info@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Contacts for the Gulf Region:

Fisheries and Aquaculture Management:

  • Telephone: 506-851-7721

Fisheries and Fish Habitat Protection Program:

Licensing:

Science:

  • Telephone: 506-851-6204

Small Craft Harbours:

  • Toll Free1-800-983-6161
Area Offices

Gulf Region area offices have a privileged relationship with DFO clients and partners as staff members play an essential role in the planning, co-ordination and delivery of Departmental services.

More than one hundred employees work out of the three area offices, including fishery officers, technicians and managers. They provide services related to fisheries, resource management and protection, fishing harbours and aquaculture.

Prince Edward Island

The Prince Edward Island (PEI) area coincides with the province’s geographical boundaries. It is the province with the highest percentage of total gross domestic product attributed to fishing and hunting in Canada. Shellfish aquaculture is second to lobster in landed values by species within the PEI fishing sector. The mussel industry is responsible for approximately eighty percent (80%) of Canadian mussel production and seventy-one percent (71%) of North American production.

Eastern New Brunswick

The Eastern New Brunswick area covers the NB coastline bordering the Gulf of St. Lawrence and that part of NB traversed by rivers flowing into the Gulf. It has the largest number of French-speaking fishermen in the Gulf Region, where nearly 60% of Eastern NB licence holders are francophone. This area is also home to the first Harbour Authority in Canada. Le Comité du port de Caraquet Inc. signed the initial Harbour Authority lease in 1988.

Gulf Nova Scotia

The Gulf Nova Scotia area comprises all NS waters within the Gulf of St. Lawrence in addition to NS rivers emptying into the Gulf. This picturesque region is also home to the world renowned Cabot Trail.

How to reach us:

Department of Fisheries and Oceans
165 John Yeo Drive
Charlottetown, PE
C1E 3J3
902-566-7810
Fax: 902-566-7848

Contacts for P.E.I.:

  • Area Director:
    • 902-566-7810
  • Aquaculture:
    • 902-566-7996
  • Conservation & Protection:
    • 902-314-7420
  • Licensing Services:
  • Resource Management:
    • 902-566-7844
  • Small Craft Harbours:
    • 902-566-7838

How to reach us:

Department of Fisheries and Oceans
3212 Principale Street
Tracadie, New Brunswick
E1X 1A3
Fax: 506-395-1819

Contacts for Eastern NB:

  • Licensing Services - Gulf Region
  • Area Director:
    • 506-395-7708
  • Resource Management:
    • 506-395-7705
  • Small Craft Harbours:
    • 506-395-7709
    • 506-395-7757
  • Conservation & Protection (Administration):
    • 506-395-7703

How to reach us:

Department of Fisheries and Oceans
2920 Highway 104
Antigonish County, NS
B2G 2K6
Fax: 902-863-5818

Contacts for Gulf N.S.:

  • Area Director:
    • 902-735-7116
  • Conservation & Protection:
    • 902-863-1142
  • Licensing Services:
  • Resource Management:
    • 902-735-7105
  • Small Craft Harbours:
    • 902-735-7104
Emergency Numbers

Contact the Canadian Coast Guard in case of the following incidents:

Maritime Search and Rescue incident: 1-800-565-1582

Marine pollution incident: 1-800-565-1633

Navigational hazard: Marine Safety and Hazards

Or contact a Marine Communication and Traffic Services centre on VHF channel 16.

Report Illegal Fishing

The following are infractions to the Fisheries Act:

  • fishing by non licence holders;
  • fishing in a closed area;
  • exceeding authorized catch limits;
  • possession of undersize fish, molluscs or lobster;
  • the sale of fish caught by recreational fishermen;
  • altering, disturbing or destroying fish habitats;
  • pollution of the coastal or marine environment.

Anyone wishing to report suspicious fishing activity or habitat violations is asked to contact their nearest Conservation and Protection Detachment (see numbers above) or Crime Stoppers.

To contact Crime Stoppers:
1-800-222-TIPS
1-800-222-8477

Disclaimer:

DFO does not assume any responsibility for the quality of information, products or services listed in the websites provided above. Users should also be aware that information from external sources is available only in the language in which it was provided.

Media Inquiries

Gulf Region Communications Branch

Journalists may contact the Gulf Regional Communications Branch with their requests at MediaGLF-GLFMedias@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Conservation and Protection

To report illegal fishing or to find out where to go harvest shellfish, contact the following Conservation and Protection detachments:

Telephone numbers for Conservation and Protection Detachments in Eastern New Brunswick Area
Detachment Telephone numbers
Baie Ste-Anne 506-228-4263
Beresford 506-542-7485
Renous 506-622-5992
Caraquet 506-727-3038
South Esk 506-773-3268
Charlo 506-684-2202
Neguac 506-776-3307
Richibucto 506-523-4606
Shediac 506-533-5033
Shippagan 506-336-6474
Kedgwick 506-423-6303
Telephone numbers for Conservation and Protection Detachments in Gulf Nova Scotia
Detachment Telephone numbers
Antigonish 902-863-1142
Chéticamp 902-224-2017
Pictou 902-485-5413
Telephone numbers for Conservation and Protection Detachments in Prince Edward Island
Detachment Telephone numbers
Alberton 902-853-2297
Charlottetown 902-566-7775
902-566-7831
Souris 902-687-2019
Summerside 902-888-4000
902-888-4001
Fishing Licence

A fishing licence grants permission to a person, including an aboriginal organization, to harvest identified species of fish or marine plants for a specified period of time and is subject to the conditions of the licence.

Obtain or renew a commercial fishing licence

To obtain or renew a commercial fishing licence, please proceed to the National Online Licensing System. The Department's client support service may be accessed via e-mail at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or toll-free at 1-877-535-7307. You can also access the national Licensing website.

Licensing forms

Licences to fish for experimental, scientific, educational, control of aquatic invasive species purposes and/or public display

For (section 52) licences to fish for experimental, scientific, educational, aquatic invasive species control purposes and/or public display, complete and submit the Licence application form.

NOTICE: Fish harvesters wanting to apply for an “Aquatic Invasive Species Control licence”, please select Experimental on the application form under Section 1-Licence Type. Under Section 3-Purpose of Project, indicate “Invasive Species” in the description.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Gulf Region Licensing policies

Frequently used forms & general inquiries

For frequently used forms including the application for commercial fisher’s registration, DFO medical form and the application to be recognized as a new entrant as well as for all other general inquiries, please contact:

Gulf Region Licensing

Toll Free: 1-855-634-2355
Fax: 506-851-6705
E-mail: GulfInfoGolfe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca (please indicate your name and the DFO Region in which you are located)
Address:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region
343 Université Avenue
P.O. Box 5030
Moncton, NB
E1C 9B6

For questions on how the national online licensing system works and related transactions:

Toll-free: 1-877-535-7307
E-mail: fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca (please indicate your name and the DFO Region in which you are located)