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The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to remind harvesters that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming week.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

The meeting schedule is as follows:

Week 3:

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Centre: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Please note that there will be Virtual Meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.

"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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of 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, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1600 hours on February 6, 2023:

From Fox Island River area (at Lat 48.70460 Long -58.67357, southwest towards Port Aux Basques area and then east to Shepherd Rock (at Lat 47.39926, Long -55.60842).

More detailed information on remaining 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Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2023-001 has been repealed effective 1600 hours Monday, February 6, 2023.

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

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to remind harvesters that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

The meeting schedule is as follows:

Week 2:
Monday, February 6, 2023 – Bonavista, Fire Hall: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 – Petty Harbour, Community Center: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – Old Perlican, Community Center: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – Riverhead, Royal Canadian Legion: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Thursday, February 9, 2023 – Ferryland, Southern Shore Folk Arts Council: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Week 3:
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Centre: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Please note that there will be Virtual Meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.

"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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

In April 2021, amendments to the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (AFR) and the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations (MPFR) came into force creating new provisions that preserve and promote the independence of commercial inshore fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Specifically, the regulatory changes:
- prohibit licence holders from transferring the use or control of rights and privileges conferred under the licence to any third party;
- restrict the issuance of inshore licences to licence holders who have not transferred the rights or privileges conferred under the licence; and
- prohibit anyone other than the licence holder from using and controlling the rights and privileges associated with a licence.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has developed guidance for industry, specifically inshore licence holders, on certain aspects of the implementation of these regulatory changes.

Two new guidance documents are now available on DFO’s website:
1) Agreements and stipulations: Inshore regulations implementation: Agreements and stipulations
2) Financial agreements: Inshore regulations implementation: Financial agreements

Already available guidance on the licensing review process and on corporate structures have also been updated.
If you would like more information regarding the inshore regulations, please visit: Inshore regulations
 

DFO reminds anglers that the 2023 Trout and Smelt winter angling seasons in non-scheduled waters throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will open as follows:

Trout season dates:
Zone 1 (Insular Newfoundland) - February 1
Zone 2 (Labrador Straits) - March 1
Zone 3 (Southeastern Labrador) - February 1
Zone 4 (Western Labrador) - February 1
Zone 5 (Central Labrador) - February 1
Zone 6 (Northern Labrador) - February 1

There are exceptions to these dates for Special Trout Management Areas.
Consult the 2022/23 Angler's Guide for specific information on these Special Trout Management Areas.

Daily bag limits:
The daily bag limit for inland and tidal waters of insular Newfoundland for all trout species combined, and for Brook Trout in Labrador, is 12 trout or 2.25 kg plus one fish, whichever is reached first.

In Labrador, the daily bag limit and possession limit for Lake Trout is three fish in Zones 3-6. The daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Zone 2 is two fish, with a four-fish possession limit. The daily bag limit for Arctic Char and Northern Pike is two fish, with a four-fish possession limit. In the Special Trout Management Area of the Eagle Plateau Management Zone, Chateau Pond and Gilbert's Lake the daily bag limit is six Speckled (Brook) Trout or 1.13 kg plus one fish, whichever is reached first, and the possession limit is equal the daily bag limit.

Refer to the Angler's Guide for Special Trout Management Area daily bag limits.

Possession limit:
The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit with the exception of the Special Trout Management Areas, where the possession limit is the daily bag limit.

Angling gear:
While fishing through the ice, anglers are permitted to use three separate lines which must be closely and constantly attended by the angler.

Smelt:
Smelt angling in non-scheduled inland waters of insular Newfoundland and in Labrador are subject to the same season dates as trout angling, with the exception of those ponds that opened January 15, 2023 (refer to the 2022/23 Angler's Guide). There is no bag or possession limit for Smelt, and no bag or possession limit for Whitefish in Labrador.

For a complete list of trout angling information, please consult the 2022-23 Angler's Guide, which is available online at Anglers' Guide 2022-2023

DFO reminds anglers to take precautions before venturing out on the ice or water this season.

DFO advises that the commercial Scallop fishery in Area 9 (Inner St. Mary's Bay) in NAFO Division 3L will open at 0600 hours Saturday, January 28, 2023 for harvesters in the following Vessel Class: C4701.

Harvesters are reminded that information returns (logbooks) are a requirement for this fishery.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-250 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-007 comes into effect on January 28, 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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

The meeting schedule is as follows:
Thursday, February 9, 2023 – Marystown, Marystown Hotel: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Monday, February 13, 2023 – Hawkes Bay, Torrent River Inn: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Thursday, February 16, 2023 – Corner Brook, Greenwood Inn & Suites: 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Please note that there will be Virtual Meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.
"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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to remind harvesters that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries. 

The meeting schedule is as follows:

Week 1: 

Monday, January 30, 2023 - New Wes Valley, Lions Club: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 - Fogo, Anglican Church Hall (Centre Island): 10:30am - 12:30 pm

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - Twillingate, Lions Club: 10:00 am - 

12:00 pm

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - Baie Verte, College of the North Atlantic: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Week 2:

Monday, February 6, 2023 - Bonavista, Fire Hall: 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - Petty Harbour, Community Center: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 - Old Perlican, Community Center: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 - Riverhead, Royal Canadian Legion: 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Thursday, February 9, 2023 - Ferryland, Southern Shore Folk Arts Council: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Week 3:

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 - St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Centre: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Please note that there will be Virtual Meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.

"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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Herring fishery in Placentia Bay, Herring Fishing Area 10 for mobile gear vessels in the less than 55 feet allocation will reopen at 0600hrs on January 26, 2023 and close at 2000hrs on January 26, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-005 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-006 comes into effect on January 25, 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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

The Labrador meeting schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 – St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Cartwright: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 – Town Hall, Mary’s Harbour 10 am – 12 pm

Please note that there will be virtual meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.

"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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca