Entries

DFO advises fish harvesters that the commercial cod fishery in NAFO Subdivision 3Ps(a) will close on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 1800 hours for harvesters with a homeport outside Division 3Ps(a) and (b).

Fish harvesters with a homeport in 3Ps (a) or (b) wishing to direct for cod in 3Ps (a) are advised that amended licence conditions are available on the National Online Licensing System upon request.

"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: Beverly.Piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises harvesters that the fixed gear Herring fishery for barr/tuck seine fishery will close in Herring Fishing Area 3 (White Bay) in NAFO Division 3K at 1200 hours on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-226 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-231 comes into effect at 1200 hours on November 8, 2022.

"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: Beverly.Piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

In response to the recent devastating impacts of Hurricane Fiona in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be providing up to 28.4 million dollars through the Ghost Gear Fund to support for projects in the areas directly affected by Hurricane Fiona. The call for proposals is now open and application information can be found on the Ghost Gear Fund website. The funding will be available for projects focusing work on areas directly affected by Hurricane Fiona from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Interested proponents will be required to submit an application by December 28, 2022 23:59 PST to be considered. This funding is in addition to the 1.5M announced recently which has been allocated through Ghost Gear Fund partners for immediate actions this fall in response to Hurricane Fiona. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is reminding harvesters that the reporting of lost gear is mandatory in all commercial fisheries, as outlined in commercial fishing license conditions, and should be done online through the Fishing Gear Reporting System. PDF versions of the lost and retrieved fishing gear forms are still available, if required. All commercial harvesters in Atlantic Canada are reminded to report gear that was lost as a result of Hurricane Fiona, including gear that was lost from areas of storage on land. This reporting enables the Department to identify hotspots for lost gear, prioritize areas for retrieval and also facilitates the return of usable gear to harvesters. 

If harvesters require help navigating the Fishing Gear Reporting System, they are encouraged to reach out to the Department for assistance at DFO.LostandRetrievedGear-EnginsPerdusRecupere.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, a North Atlantic right whale was sighted swimming near Cape Spear, NL.

Based on the information available, no temporary measures will be implemented at this time. However, harvesters should be on alert while in this area.

The Government of Canada is undertaking extensive surveillance of many areas of Atlantic Canadian waters where North Atlantic right whales may be present.

To view this sighting and future sightings, please follow the link below.

For additional information: Regular updates and sightings maps will be posted at the following address: Whale Insight - An interactive map of North Atlantic right whale detections in Canada

DFO advises that the directed fishery for Atlantic halibut in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will reopen to the inshore fixed - gear fleet (fixed-gear vessels less than 65 feet - Vessel Classes A251, A254, A257, A260, A263, A266, A269, A272, A275, and A279) at 0600 hours on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.  New licence conditions are not required.

DFO also reminds harvesters that the retention of Atlantic halibut as bycatch in other open directed groundfish fisheries in 3Ps remains authorized at this time.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-227 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-230 comes into effect on November 2, 2022.

"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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that the Unit 1 Redfish index fishery in NAFO Division 4R will close for all Vessel Classes at 2000 hours, October 31, 2022.

"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: Beverly.Piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises harvesters that the Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery in NAFO Division 2J (vessel class A292) has been extended and will now close on Saturday, November 12 at 1600 hours. 

New licence conditions are not required. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-224 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-229 comes into effect on October 27, 2022.

"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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that the Mobile Gear (Purse Seine) Herring fishery in part of NAFO Division 3K (Notre Dame Bay - Herring Fishing Area 4) will open at 0600 hours on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-193 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-228 comes into effect on October 25, 2022.

"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: Beverly.Piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that the directed Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will close for fixed gear vessels less than 65 feet using longlines at 2000 hours on Thursday, October 20, 2022.

Please note that the bycatch retention of halibut will continue to be authorized at this time in other open directed groundfish fisheries in 3Ps.

Fish harvesters are reminded to return their Inshore Fixed Gear Logbooks after the conclusion of fishing operations as per conditions of licence.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-216 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-227 comes into effect on October 20, 2022.

"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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that the tuck/barr seine, trap net and gillnet herring fishery for NAFO Division 2J (Herring Fishing Areas 1 -2) will close at 18:00 hours on Tuesday, October 18, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-221 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-226 comes into effect at 1800 hours on October 18, 2022.

"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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca