Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - The Government of Canada is committed to sustainable and orderly fisheries that support rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities. These fisheries rely on the best available science advice. In Southwest Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Southwest New Brunswick, the elver fishery is an important source of income for commercial licence holders, and First Nations communities.
Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced the 2026 elver fishing season will open around April 1 with an increased total allowable catch (TAC). This season, licence holders can harvest up to 12,180 kilograms (kg) of elver, an increase of 22% from the previous TAC (9,960 kg). This TAC increase is supported by the best available scientific data for elvers, and trends of returns observed on the index river used to evaluate population size.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) consulted with commercial licence holders and First Nations on allocations for the 2026 fishing season to determine how the TAC increase was distributed. No harvesters had their quota decreased, and many saw their quota increase.
To enhance elver population science, quota allocations for the 2026 season include 180 kg held in reserve for science activities under Section 10 of the Fisheries Act. These joint research activities would be undertaken by DFO Science and organizations that have submitted research proposals for the 2026 season. Potential research agreements with commercial licence holders and First Nations are currently being considered, with the goal of having an agreement in place to support science work during the 2026 fishing season.
The increased TAC also reflects the improvements to order in the fishery observed in 2025, including the implementation of the Possession and Export of Elvers Regulations and the Elver Monitoring and Traceability (EMT) application. Along with the enforcement efforts of fishery officers, the regulations and the EMT application reduced the amount of unauthorized harvesting and improved traceability. All licence holders are required to use the EMT application to report their elver fishing, possession, and export activities.
Unauthorized harvest, possession or export of elver is illegal and subject to enforcement action by fishery officers. Building on the increased compliance and order observed last year, fishery officers will continue to work with harvesters toward voluntary compliance with the Fisheries Act and maintain a strong presence at riversides, holding facilities, and export points.
