Fisheries management decisions

Fisheries management decisions
Fisheries management decisions
On this page
Priorities
Fisheries decisions
Fish stock provisions
Updates
Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages fisheries in accordance with the
Fisheries Act
, using credible, science-based, affordable and effective practices. Learn about our priorities for fisheries management and find past fisheries decisions.
Priorities
Key priorities for fisheries management in Canada include:
economic viability
environmental sustainability
inclusion of stakeholders in decision-making processes
Fisheries decisions
Fisheries decisions set out the management measures for a specific fishing season. They’re generally divided by species (or group of species) and fishing area. Information in a fisheries decision may include:
management plans
total allowable catches
opening and closing dates for the season
Certain fisheries are managed through multi-year
Integrated fisheries management plans and rebuilding plans
. In this case, seasonal adjustments may be made through the fisheries decision process and listed on this page.
Fisheries decisions within Canada’s 200-mile limit in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic include fisheries off the coast of:
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia, Nunavut
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Current year decisions
2026 fisheries decisions
2025 fisheries decisions
2024 fisheries decisions
Pacific and Yukon fisheries notices
Past decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic
2023 fisheries decisions
2022 fisheries decisions
2021 fisheries decisions
2020 fisheries decisions
2019 fisheries decisions
2018 fisheries decisions
Fish stocks provisions
Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages major fish stocks listed in Schedule IX of the
Fishery (General) Regulations
in accordance with the fish stocks provisions (sections 6.1 to 6.3) of the
Fisheries Act
.
We must manage these major fish stocks at a sustainable level, or put in place rebuilding plans to rebuild depleted stocks.
Sustainable Fisheries Framework
- More information on how we meet these requirements
Integrated Fisheries Management Plans
- Find rebuilding plans that are in effect
Under the Act, we are required to publish notices of certain decisions made under the fish stocks provisions and their rationale. These include decisions where we have:
implemented management measures to maintain a stock above its limit reference point for cultural reasons or to mitigate adverse socio-economic impacts
adjusted a rebuilding plan to mitigate adverse socio-economic or cultural impacts
extended the timeline for developing a rebuilding plan beyond 24-months
Notices of decision
2025 - Snow crab (North-Eastern Nova Scotia) - Notice of decision - 6.1(3) of the
Fisheries Act
2024 – Atlantic cod (3Pn4RS) - Notice of Invoking Subs. 70(3) of the
Fishery (General) Regulations
2024 – Northern shrimp (SFA 6) - Notice of Invoking Subs. 70(3) of the
Fishery (General) Regulations
2024 - West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook - Notice of Invoking Subs. 70(3) of the
Fishery (General) Regulations
Updates
Fishery openings and closures
- More information on ongoing fisheries management updates, including variation and prohibition orders
Commercial fisheries
- Information about fisheries management, including access and allocation to resources within Canada's fisheries
Date modified:
2025-12-18