Fishery Notice

Crab vessel owners/licence eligibility holders may change their Crab Management Area of selection for the next three year period beginning April 1, 2026 ending March 31, 2029. All licence eligibility holders will be emailed the instructions and appropriate forms using the email addresses on file with DFO. This process is part of the approved 2025/26 Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (See Appendix 3 Section 2.5.1). 

If a licence eligibility holder wishes to remain in the same area and not change their fishing area, they do not have to submit a Crab Area Re-Selection form. Crab vessel owners/licence eligibility holders that do not complete and submit a Crab Area Re-Selection form will default to the area in which they were licensed in 2025.

The Area Re-Selection process will have 2 rounds.  For round 1, the Crab Area Re-Selection form must be completed in full and submitted by August 13, 2025.  

The area selection results will be announced, via Notice to Industry, as soon as possible after Round 1.  The announcement will provide the number of licences per crab management area and any required adjustments to vessel trap limits.

After the results from Round 1 are announced, Round 2 will be initiated and all licence eligibility holders will have a final chance to change their area selection by completing the Crab Area Re-selection form in full and submitting it by September 24, 2025.  

Licence eligibility holders should submit a Crab Area Re-Selection form for each licence eligibility they own.  The Crab Area Re-selection forms must be signed by ALL vessel owners on record with the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit(PFLU). If the vessel owner/licence eligibility holder is a company or First Nation, the PFLU must have on record a copy of either a Confirmation of Signing Authorities or an Amendment to Confirmation of Signing Authorities form, listing the signing authorities.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please contact Karen Martz or Brittany Myhal at DFO.PACFMCrab-CrabeGPPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0665
Sent July 16, 2025 at 1621

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 30, 2026 at 2109