ACFA

04/16/2026

04/02/2026

Gas prices in St. John’s, Newfoundland, exceeded $2 per litre for the first time in nearly 4 years.

03/27/2026

Canada’s lucrative elver fishery is set to reopen around April 1, as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) increases the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) by 22% to 12,180 kilograms.

The decision comes amid continued concerns over illegal harvesting, which has plagued the high-value juvenile eel fishery in recent years. Elvers, prized in international markets, can fetch thousands of dollars per kilogram, making them a target for poaching and unlicensed fishing.

Federal officials say stricter enforcement measures will be in place this season, with increased patrols and monitoring aimed at curbing illicit activity. The DFO maintains that the higher quota is based on updated stock assessments, but critics warn that without effective enforcement, illegal fishing could still undermine sustainability efforts.

03/23/2026

Lobster prices surge in southwest Nova Scotia amid low catches and strong demand

Southwestern Nova Scotia, March 2026 — Shore prices for lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFA) 33 and 34 have climbed sharply, reaching the $15 per pound range by mid-February.

Industry sources attribute the rise to below-average landings, higher-quality catches, and robust market demand, particularly from China boosted by Lunar New Year celebrations.

The season opened November 24 at $8.50 per pound. Prices stayed low initially due to earlier trade pressures but began increasing in January, hitting $12.50 before surging further.

“Low catches, improved quality and increased market demand drove the shore price up from $12.50 to the $15 range,” reported The Navigator magazine.

Fishermen welcome the boost after a slow start, though overall landings remain light. The trend continues into March with sustained buyer interest.

03/23/2026

Northern cod fishery thrives in Newfoundland amid tech upgrades and harbour investments

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, March 2026 — The Northern cod (2J3KL) stock continues to show robust health, with preliminary 2025 landings nearing 29,000 metric tons and exports climbing following DFO’s 2025 quota doubling to 38,000 tonnes.

Science confirms the stock holds steady since 2017, ranking as the world’s second-largest cod spawning biomass and the only top global stock still growing. The commercial fishery, reopened in 2024 after a 32-year moratorium, supports harvesters, processors, and coastal economies with high inshore prices and new offshore opportunities.

DFO advances modernization: Electronic logbooks (ELOG) rollout expands in 2026 across more Atlantic fisheries, including additional snow crab and lobster fleets, improving catch reporting accuracy, timeliness, and compliance after initial mandates in 2025.

Small craft harbours receive ongoing upgrades for safety and resilience. Projects include breakwater enhancements (e.g., Port La Tour, Nova Scotia), floating wharf replacements (Meteghan, NS), and slipway reconstructions (Seacow Pond, PEI), bolstering infrastructure against climate impacts and sustaining local fishing operations.

03/22/2026

DFO Releases 2026 Atlantic Fishery Decisions: Haddock Cuts, Mackerel Closure, Snow Crab Decline Warning

Ottawa — Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) issued its 2026 commercial fishery decisions for Atlantic Canada, featuring significant quota reductions and continued restrictions to prioritize sustainability.

The Atlantic mackerel commercial fishery remains closed for the 2025-2026 season, with only limited bait and bycatch access permitted.

In several areas, haddock quotas face sharp cuts (e.g., up to 57% reductions in parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick effective April 1).

Snow crab assessments signal an impending decline, with some Newfoundland and Labrador zones downgraded to cautious or critical status; stakeholders warn of potential historic lows by 2028, influencing upcoming total allowable catch (TAC) decisions.
Other measures include set TACs for offshore Jonah crab (LFA 41) and Greenland halibut (NAFO Subarea 0 at 17,664 tonnes for 2026).

Industry groups and harvesters express concern over economic impacts amid ongoing stock pressures.

02/26/2026

Shore prices hit $15/lb in LFA 33/34 as low catches meet strong demand

HALIFAX — Lobster shore prices in Nova Scotia’s Lobster Fishing Areas 33 and 34 rose to approximately $15 per pound by mid-February 2026, up from $12.50 earlier in the month and an opening price of $8.50 in late November.

Industry sources attribute the increase to below-average early-season landings combined with solid demand, particularly from China around the Lunar New Year (Feb 17).

“The price jumped to $15/lb because catches are light and the Chinese market is buying strong,” one processor said.
The LFA 33/34 season operates under trap and effort limits with no total allowable catch. Higher wharf prices offer relief to harvesters after a slow start.

Prices remain volatile and subject to ongoing market and weather conditions.

02/25/2026

NL Snow Crab Stocks Face Uncertain Future as Key Areas Decline

A new stock assessment from Fisheries and Oceans Canada shows parts of the snow crab fishery off Newfoundland and Labrador are weakening, with one key zone now in the critical category and others downgraded to cautious. Scientists warn that warming ocean temperatures and fewer young and reproductive-age crabs could push available biomass to historic lows by 2028 if trends continue.

While one major area remains healthy and is propping up overall numbers, industry groups like Fish, Food and Allied Workers argue the federal precautionary model is too restrictive and hurting harvesters. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson says consultations are ongoing and no final decisions have been made yet.

Bottom line: the future of the snow crab fishery is uncertain, and what happens over the next few seasons will matter a lot for coastal communities.

01/29/2026

DFO announces 2026 Atlantic fishery decisions

Ottawa – Fisheries and Oceans Canada has released key 2026 allocations and measures for Atlantic commercial fisheries.

The offshore Jonah crab total allowable catch (TAC) in Maritimes Region LFA 41 is set. Greenland halibut TACs in NAFO Subarea 0 are fixed at 17,664 tonnes for 2026 and 17,309 tonnes for 2027.

The Atlantic mackerel commercial fishery will remain closed for the 2025-2026 season, with only limited access permitted for bait and bycatch.

In southwest New Brunswick, DFO launched a one-year pilot commercial harvest of invasive European green crab. The fishery opens in spring 2026 to help control the species while creating new opportunities and reducing ecological harm.

01/24/2026

When a foreign government owns our fish plants, Canadians should be paying attention

Most Canadians assume that when seafood is caught in our waters, processed in our towns, and sold using our reputation, the benefits mostly stay here at home. The truth is that this is no longer always the case.

In parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, a growing share of seafood processing is controlled by Royal Greenland A/S, a massive seafood corporation that is fully owned by the Government of Greenland. This is not a private foreign investor. This is a foreign state owning infrastructure directly tied to Canadian natural resources.

Royal Greenland became a major player in Canada after acquiring Quinlan Brothers and operating under the Quin-Sea Fisheries banner. Today, the company runs multiple processing facilities across Atlantic Canada, handling species that are central to local livelihoods such as snow crab, shrimp, cod, lobster, and more. These plants are often the economic backbone of small coastal communities.

That is exactly why ownership matters.

When a plant is locally owned, decisions about investment, expansion, wages, and long term planning are usually tied to the well being of the surrounding community. When ownership shifts to a foreign government, priorities change. The ultimate responsibility of Royal Greenland is not to Newfoundland workers or Canadian communities. It is to the people and government of Greenland.

That raises serious questions that deserve honest discussion.

Should a foreign government be allowed to control significant parts of the value chain built on Canadian natural resources? Should profits generated from fish harvested in Canadian waters be flowing back to a foreign treasury instead of being reinvested in our own communities? What happens to local independence when small operators must negotiate with a company backed by the financial power of a state?

This is not an attack on workers, and it is not hostility toward Greenlanders. It is about economic sovereignty. Canada debates foreign ownership when it comes to oil, minerals, farmland, and infrastructure. Fisheries should be no different. These resources are tied directly to culture, employment, and the long term survival of coastal regions.

Coastal communities have already seen decision making move farther and farther away, first to corporate headquarters, now to boardrooms overseen by another country’s government. Every step removes more local control.

If we care about the future of Atlantic Canada’s fisheries, we need to start having an honest conversation about ownership, control, and who truly benefits from the wealth coming out of our waters. If the fish are Canadian, the communities are Canadian, and the workers are Canadian, then Canadians are justified in asking why the ultimate owner is not.

01/24/2026

Man Fined $10,000 for Illegal Lobster Fishing in New Brunswick

Bathurst, N.B. — Yves Gautreau pleaded guilty in Bathurst Provincial Court on Jan. 12, 2026, to three violations of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, including fishing lobster in a closed area, possessing three egg-bearing females, and having 33 undersized lobsters. The offences resulted in $10,000 in fines.

Gautreau was intercepted by fishery officers from the Shippagan Detachment on Aug. 28, 2024, while the lobster season was closed in Fishing Area 23. Officers found 84 lobsters in total, including undersized lobsters and egg-bearing females. Charges against a second individual involved in the incident were later dropped.

Fisheries violations can be reported online at: https://ow.ly/EOim50Y1ZhA