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North Atlantic Right Whale – Notification on implementation of lower breaking strength gear modifications in non-tended, fixed gear, trap and pot fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the implementation of lower breaking strength (LBS) fishing gear in 2024 will be supported on a voluntary basis only in selected Eastern Canadian commercial fisheries.

Canada is committed to protecting North Atlantic right whales (NARW), a species listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act, and to supporting their recovery. DFO continues to prioritize measures to prevent NARW entanglements in fishing gear, by closing areas to fishing when and where NARW are detected, and removing lost, abandoned and discarded fishing gear.

Since 2020, DFO has been collecting and assessing available information including gear trial results, and engaging with partners and stakeholders, to guide the implementation of LBS gear so that it is safe and effective for fishing operations. This engagement is important for helping harvesters transition successfully to equipment that better protects whales and supports access to seafood markets.

Through this process, DFO has identified certain commercial Lobster fisheries that pose an entanglement risk to NARW and that have achieved positive LBS gear trial results, demonstrating that the gear may be used safely and effectively in those fisheries. In 2024, DFO will engage with these specific fisheries to facilitate their voluntary adoption of LBS gear.

DFO also recognizes that LBS gear has not yet been demonstrated to be safe and effective for fishing in all non-tended, fixed gear including trap and pot fisheries in Eastern Canada. DFO’s five-year Whalesafe Gear Strategy (hereafter the Strategy) will guide future work to implement whalesafe gear in Canadian fisheries, including on-demand fishing gear, based on the specific conditions of each fishery and informed by trial results. The Strategy will prioritize fisheries that present entanglement risk to right whales and other whale species, while ensuring harvester safety and gear effectiveness. The Strategy will be finalized in 2024 following further stakeholder and partner engagement.

In 2024, DFO will announce further details about measures to protect NARW in Canadian fisheries, including information on steps to expand and operationalize the use of on-demand fishing gear over time, in fisheries where this can be proven effective and safe.

For more information:

Whalesafe Fishing Gear

North Atlantic right whale protection measures

DFO advises that the mobile gear Herring fishery (Purse Seine) will open by permit only on December 13, 2023 at 0600 hours and close on December 20, 2023 at 1600 hours in Conception Bay (Herring Fishing Area 7).

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO’s National On-line Licencing System for those harvesters who have been contacted for the above date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-288 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-290 comes into effect on December 13, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at: Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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

DFO advises that the fixed gear Herring fishery (Barr/Tuck Seine) will open by permit only on December 10, 2023 at 0600 hours and close on December 15, 2023 at 1600 hours in Notre Dame Bay (Herring Fishing Area 4).

License conditions can be obtained through DFO’s National On-line Licensing System for those harvesters who have been contacted for the above date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-284 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-289 comes into effect on December 9, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at: Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Herring fishery in St. Mary's Bay, Herring Fishing Area 09 and Placentia Bay, Herring Fishing Area 10 for mobile gear vessels in the greater than 55 feet (16.76 m) allocation, will open at 0600 hours on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

Fishers are reminded that At-Sea Observer coverage and Dockside Monitoring services must be arranged prior to fishing.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-287 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-288 comes into effect on December 6, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at: Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Herring fishery in St. Mary's Bay, Herring Fishing Area 09 and Placentia Bay, Herring Fishing Area 10 for mobile gear vessels less than 55 feet in length will open at 0600 hours on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

Fishers are reminded that At-Sea Observer coverage and Dockside Monitoring services must be arranged prior to fishing.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-287 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-288 comes into effect on December 6, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at: Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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

DFO advises that as of 2000 hours Newfoundland Standard Time (NST) on Monday, December 4, 2023, the retention of Atlantic halibut as by-catch in NAFO Divisions 4RST will no longer be permitted this season for mobile gear vessels less than 65 feet. It is expected that the Atlantic Halibut by-catch allocation for the sector will have been taken by that time.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at: Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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

DFO advises that the mobile gear herring (purse seine) fishery for Conception Bay and the Southern Shore (Herring Fishing Areas 7 and 8) will close at 1300 hours on Saturday, December 2, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-285 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-287 comes into effect on December 2, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at: Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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

Historically, data from fishing activity has been provided to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) via paper logbooks. In recent years, an effort has been made to streamline the process of sharing and collecting information using electronic logbooks applications (ELOGS).

Harvesters in some Quebec fisheries such as lobster, crab and select herring fishing areas are already using ELOGS on a mandatory basis and have been using it for a few years. 

Further advancement of mandatory implementation of ELOGs depends on several factors such as availability of a sufficient number of ELOG products for a fishery, harvester uptake, stakeholder feedback and regional readiness etc. Based on the current analysis of these key factors, no final decision has been made surrounding timelines for mandatory implementation on a national basis; however some regions may designate select fisheries for mandatory implementation. 

At this time, the ELOGs program continues its primarily voluntary use for all fisheries except those mentioned above in Quebec. Harvesters who wish to use a qualified ELOG product are free to do so where a qualified product exists in regions with fisheries onboarded.

DFO remains committed to working with industry as we continue to improve and enhance our catch reporting services.

For any additional questions regarding the National ELOG program, please contact DFO at 1-877-535-7307 or at the following email:  fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the mobile gear herring (purse seine) fishery for Trinity Bay (Herring Fishing Area 6) will close at 1100 hours on Monday, November 27, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-283 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-285 comes into effect at 1100 hours on November 27, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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

DFO advises that the Bluefin Tuna fishery in NAFO Divisions 3KLNOP is open by permit only for vessels with 2023 Bluefin tuna tag numbers:

3651, 3652, 3969 and tags in the series 3771 through 3780.

Tag numbers 3857 and 3919 are no longer valid effective 1800 hours November 24, 2023.

Licence conditions are available through DFO’s National On-line Licencing System. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2023-274 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-286 comes into effect at 1800 hours on November 24, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

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