Fisheries and Oceans Canada

DFO advises that the Minister approved management measures for the Atlantic Mackerel recreational fishery for 2025 and 2026.

Please be advised that when fishing recreationally for Atlantic Mackerel, the following management measure is in effect to limit dead discards and support rebuilding of the stock:

1.    No minimum size requirement when fishing Atlantic mackerel recreationally. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will vary the minimum size for possession of Atlantic Mackerel from 26.8 cm, as outlined in Section 49.01(b) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, to 0 cm in length. This would mean 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.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca