Entries

DFO reminds anglers that the winter trout angling season for Zone 1 (Insular Newfoundland) closes on April 15, 2026. Angling for trout in tidal waters is still permitted outside DFO caution signs. However, the daily bag limit applies.

Notices to Anglers are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the mobile gear herring (purse seine) fishery for Trinity Bay (Herring Fishing Area 6) will close at 2300 hours on April 8, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-027 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-029 comes into force at 2000 hours on April 8, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that Fixed Gear (Tuck Seine, Gillnet and Trap net) Herring fisheries will open on April 08, 2026 at 0600 hours for the following areas:
Herring Fishing Area 5 - Bonavista Bay
Herring Fishing Area 6 - Trinity Bay
Herring Fishing Area 7 - Conception Bay
Herring Fishing Area 8 - Southern Shore
Herring Fishing Area 10 - Placentia Bay
Herring Fishing Area 11 - Fortune Bay
Herring Fishing Area 11.1 Pass Island to Cinq Cerf

Gillnets and traps will open on April 8, 2026 at 0600 hours for the following areas:  
Herring Fishing Area 3 - White Bay
Herring Fishing Area 4 - Notre Dame Bay
Herring Fishing Area 9 - St. Mary's Bay  

Gillnets only will open on April 8, 2026 at 0600 hours for the following area:
Herring Fishing Area 12

Fish harvesters are reminded that logbooks are mandatory in these Fixed Gear Herring fisheries.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-020 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-028 will come into force April 08, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the Mobile Gear (Purse Seine) Herring fishery will open on April 8, 2026 at 0600 hours in White Bay, Notre Dame Bay, Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay, Conception Bay and the Southern Shore (Herring Fishing Areas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-021 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-027 will come into force April 8, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the directed Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn, for vessels less than 65 feet using hook and line gear, will open at 0600 hours on April 9, 2026.

The Atlantic halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn will close should the bycatch of cod exceed established protocols.

Fish harvesters are reminded that:

- All licence holders are required to hail-out, at least three hours before leaving port, to the DFO toll-free number at 1-877-637-4315.

- All catch must be reported for applicable hails and Dockside Monitoring services.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises harvesters that the Shrimp fishery in Shrimp Fishing Area 8 for the Western NL fleet is open.

Fishing is authorized to begin once licence holders pay their licence fees and receive their licence conditions. Licence fees and licence conditions are currently being uploaded in the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise lobster harvesters that a declaration is required for Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 11W for the 2026 season.

Please note a declaration is only required if you intend to fish in LFA 11W (that portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 west of Western Head, Hare Bay).

All LFA 11 harvesters that do not declare their intention to fish in LFA 11W will be issued a license to fish in LFA 11E (that portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 located east of Western Head, Hare Bay).

PLEASE NOTE:

Declarations must be requested through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Declarations must be received by close of business day April 16, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3K will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Area 4 will open at 0600 hours on April 2, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 72 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 3A and 3D will open at 0001 hours on April 5, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Area 3BC will open at 0600 hours on April 11, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 24 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 12, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Area 3B will open at 0001 hours on April 12, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 12, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Area 3C will open at 0001 hours on April 19, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 19, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-275 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-026 comes into effect on April 1, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3LNO will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Areas NS, MS, 8B, 8Bx, 8Bx North, 8Bx South, Msex, 3Lex, 3N200, 3L200, 3NO200 will open at 0600 hours on April 2, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 72 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 5A, 6A, 6B, 6C, 8A and 9A will open at 0001 hours on April 5, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-275 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-026 comes into effect on April 1, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3Ps will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Areas 10B and 11S will open at 0600 hours on April 2, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 72 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 10A, 11E and 11W will open at 0001 hours on April 5, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab 0600 hours on April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-275 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-026 comes into effect on April 1, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.