Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closures of portions of Notre Dame Bay for the harvesting of all molluscan bivalve shellfish for recreational and commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1800 hours, May 13, 2026:

Osmonton Arm:
Those waters of Little Northwest Arm, that are inside, or southwest, of a line drawn from coordinate 49.4578278, -55.3634257 southeast to coordinate 49.4525412, -55.3606694. 

Big Island:
Those waters of Big Island, West Arm that are bounded by, or inside, a series of straight lines drawn from latitude/longitude 49.3686916, -55.4394693 northeast to reference 49.3695417, -55.4354722; latitude/longitude 49.3594522, -55.4404327 southwest to reference 49.3571905, -55.4468041 thence northwest to reference 49.3586479, -55.4490750, thence northwest to reference 49.3618380, -554499504; latitude/longitude 49.3618380, -55.4499504 northeast to reference 49.3642700, -55.4484013, thence northeast to 49.3650692, -55.4479314. 

Strong Island:
Those waters of Strong Island Sound that are inside, or southeast of a straight line drawn from latitude/longitude 49.3872110, -55.3436630 northeast to reference 49.3865676, -55.3482039.

The closures noted above apply to the following molluscan bivalve shellfish:
All bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, northern moon snails, waved whelks, Stimpson's whelks, except sea scallops.

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website:  Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Orders NSN-2026-001, NSN-2026-002, NSN-2026-003 come into effect at 1800 hours May 13, 2026.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)