Groundfish quotas for Georges Bank (5Z) and fishing zone 4VWX5 are mostly unchanged for 2025/26, aside from a 1,000 mt (metric tonnes) decrease in haddock quota for Georges Bank.
The Canadian portion of the Georges Bank haddock quota has been set at 5,854 tonnes, compared to 6,900 mt in 2024. The Georges Bank cod quota was increased by one tonne to 370 mt from 369 mt in 2024. Yellowtail flounder quota has been set at 104 tonnes, up five tonnes from 2024 (97 mt).
In 4X5Y, an interim haddock TAC of 5,000 mt has been set until catch advice can be provided following the next stock assessment on April 28. In 2024, the 4X5Y haddock quota was set at 6,198 mt.
A 660 mt bycatch quota for Atlantic cod in 4X5Y has been maintained in 2025.
The quota for Atlantic halibut (3NOPs4VWX5Zc) has been increased by 222 tonnes to 5,149 mt from 4,927 mt.
Pollock quota in 4X5 has been decreased by 460 mt from 3,768 mt to 3,308 mt, while 4VW Pollock quota remains unchanged from 2024 (660 mt).
The current scientific outlook is that the 4X5Y Atlantic cod stock remains in the critical zone with no recovery projected, said Rachael Mahoney, communications advisor for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The latest assessment (2022) for 4X5Y haddock suggests the stock is in the cautious zone, based on the DFO survey index, added Mahoney.
The most recent Science Response (2024) on Eastern Georges Bank (EGB) haddock indicates that stock is in the healthy zone, said Mahoney.
