Atlantic mackerel – NAFO subareas 3 and 4 (2025-2026)

Dates of season (subject to change)

Typically from April to November

Total Allowable Catches

For 2025 and 2026, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has set for each season an annual total allowable catch (TAC) of 500 tonnes (t), which includes 440 t for the personal-use bait fishery, and 20 t each for live bait for the bluefin tuna fishery, scientific sampling, and bycatch.

DFO will maintain the commercial fishery closure.

The recreational and the food, social and ceremonial fisheries will continue to remain open.

Management measures

For the 2025 fishing season, the bait quota be released in two equal portions and the fishery will remain competitive in all four DFO regions of Atlantic Canada and Quebec. The opening of the fishery will occur on Thursday, May 15, when the first 220 t portion will be issued. If the first portion 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.

Eligible fish harvesters participating in the personal-use bait 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. For more information contact your regional DFO office or visit the National Online Licensing System.

The Atlantic mackerel recreational fishery is open every year from April 1 to December 31. The requirements of the fishery are outlined in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, however, the following two new requirements for the recreational fishery will be in effect starting in 2025:

1. No minimum size requirement when fishing Atlantic mackerel recreationally. DFO will reduce the minimum size for Atlantic mackerel, which is outlined in Section 49.01(b) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, from 26.8 cm to 0 cm. This means that recreational harvesters can retain any size fish caught up to their daily possession limit of 20 mackerel without discarding large numbers of undersized fish that typically die after release.
2. Reduction in the gear allowance to 1 line and 3 hooks. DFO will modify the gear allowance for Atlantic mackerel, which is outlined in Section 49.01(d) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, from a maximum of 5 lines with 6 hooks each, to a maximum of 1 line with up to 3 hooks to reduce effort in the recreational fishery.

For the 2026 season, DFO will continue working with advisory committee members on a management approach.

Single or multi-year planning

This is a multi-year decision that will be applied to the 2025 and 2026 fishing seasons.

Additional information

Atlantic mackerel is an important forage species and plays a critical role in the marine ecosystem. It occupies central positions in aquatic food webs and variations in abundance can affect both predators and prey.

The results of the 2025 Atlantic mackerel stock assessment indicate the Atlantic mackerel stock remains in the Critical Zone of the Precautionary Approach Framework with no notable recruitment events since 2015. With fewer older fish, low recruitment and high predation pressure, the stock’s rebuilding potential is limited, which is why the commercial closure is necessary and the Government of Canada is taking the necessary steps to promote rebuilding.

Since this stock has been in the Critical Zone since 2011, the Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding Plan was updated in 2024 to align with the Fish Stocks Provisions in the Fisheries Act. This rebuilding plan was developed by the Department in consultation with stakeholders and Indigenous partners.

Links to other information

• Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Mackerel
• Rebuilding plan for Atlantic mackerel – NAFO Subareas 3 and 4
• Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985