2018 Atlantic Mackerel - Maritimes Region

Species and area

The Atlantic mackerel stock is a trans-boundary stock found in both Canadian and United States’ waters. This decision applies to all commercial mackerel fishing in the Maritimes Region.

Dates of season (subject to change)

The mackerel fishery in the Maritimes Region generally starts mid to late April and continues into December.

Management measures (Maritimes Region)

• A limit is placed on handlines to permit licence holders to have either a maximum of six handlines (no limit on number of hooks) or any number of mechanical devices with a maximum of 200 hooks.
• A dockside monitoring program (25%) is implemented for both vessel based mackerel fisheries (gillnet and handline) and the trap net fishery.

Links to other information

The Atlantic Mackerel Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) (no longer online)

The 2007 IFMP will remain in effect until a new IFMP is completed for this fishery.