Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

Please see links below for the two notices to AMAC, which outlines the Minister’s decision regarding the Atlantic mackerel management plan for 2025 and 2026 fishing season.

Overview Bait fishery:

For each of 2025 and 2026 seasons, the Minister has set a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 500 tonnes (t), which includes 440 t for the personal-use bait fishery, and 20 t each for the bluefin tuna bait exemption, scientific sampling, and bycatch.

For the 2025 season, this will be a competitive personal-use bait fishery and the first release of 220 t will be open to all four DFO regions of Atlantic Canada and Quebec on Thursday, May 15, 2025. If the first tranche is fully caught, harvesters will be alerted to stop fishing through a Notice to Fish Harvesters. The second 220 t release will also be conveyed through a Notice to Fish Harvesters with an expected release date in September, to provide fairness in access for harvesters across all regions within Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Eligible fish harvesters participating in this fishery will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs), which will be monitored through various measures, including a 100% hail-in requirement in all regions

Overview Recreational fishery:

No minimum size requirement when fishing Atlantic mackerel recreationally.
Reduction in the gear allowance to 1 line and 3 hooks when fishing Atlantic mackerel recreationally.

Link for Recreational fishery

Link for Bait fishery