Entries

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) wishes to advise that in-person Outreach Meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

These meetings are intended to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to engage in open dialogue regarding matters of concern related to the inshore fisheries.

NAFO Division 3K
Monday, October 27, 2025 – Carmenville, Recreation Center: 2:00–4:00 PM
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Robert's Arm, Town Hall: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Thursday, October 30, 2025 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Thursday, October 30, 2025 – Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Arena: 3:00–5:00 PM

NAFO Division 3L
Monday, November 3, 2025 – Dildo, SUF Hall: 2:00–4:00 PM
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Branch, Branch Community Center: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Renews, Town Hall: 6:00–8:00 PM
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 – Bay De Verde, Town Hall: 1:00–3:00 PM
Thursday, November 6, 2025 – Salvage, 50+ Club: 1:00–3:00 PM

NAFO Divisions 4R3Pn
Monday, October 27, 2025 – Stephenville, Day’s Inn: 1:00–3:00 PM
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Rocky Harbour, Fisherman’s Landing: 1:00–3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – Plum Point, Plum Point Motel: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

NAFO Division 3PS
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – Placentia, Placentia Cultural Arts Centre: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – Grand Bank, Burin Peninsula Hotel – Dining Room: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Thursday, November 20, 2025 – Hermitage, Community Centre – Fire Dept Room: 1:00–3:00 PM

NAFO Division 2J
Monday, October 27, 2025 – Cartwright, 50 Plus Club: 1:00–4:00 PM
Monday, October 27, 2025 – Port Hope Simpson, Alexis Hotel Dining Room: 6:00–8:00 PM
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Mary’s Harbour, Recreation Commission: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – St. Lewis, Town Hall: 2:00–4:00 PM
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – Charlottetown, Town Hall: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM

For further information, please contact your local DFO office.

"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 the 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (less than 65 feet fleet) for the inshore mobile gear vessel classes C363, C364, C369, C370, C373, C376, C381, C385, C387, C393, C396, C399, C400, C401, C405, C406, C407, C410, C412, C415, C417, C419, C421, C422, C423, C424, C432, C433, C436, C437, C440, C442, C443, C444, C445, C448, C449, C452, C453, C455, C456, C457, C458, C459, C460, C461 and the Estuary and Gulf shrimp fleet for vessel classes C361, C362, C365, C366, C367, C368, C371, C372, C374, C375, C377, C378, C379, C380, C382, C383, C384, C386, C388, C389, C390, C391, C392, C394, C395, C396, C398, C403, C404, C409, C411, C413, C414, C418  will open at 0100 hours on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

DFO would like to advise licence holders when fishing Unit 1 Redfish, as per your conditions of licence, you are required to hail-out at least three hours before leaving port and every day when fishing longer than 24 hours.  You are required to hail using Schedule 16A approved format. 

Hail information must be submitted by email to DFO.Hails65-rapport65.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Schedule 16A can be found on the DFO’s website at Schedule 16A: Schedule 16A: DFO approved format

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2025-100 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-246 comes into force on October 4, 2025.

"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 tuck/barr seine herring fishery for NAFO Division 2J (Herring Fishing Areas 1 - 2) will open at 1800 hours on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2025-227 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-245 comes into force on October 3, 2025.

"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 would like to remind harvesters, buyers and the public that you are responsible for submitting commercial fishing logs and purchase slips to the Department as per section 61 of the Fisheries Act and Schedule 4 of the commercial fishing licence.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is advising clients that alternative means of delivery, for all items normally sent through regular Canada Post mail, should be used for the duration of any postal services disruption.  These alternate options are also available once the disruption is over.

DFO has various alternate options in place, to enable the timely submission of fishing logs and purchase slips to the department, such as:

• You may hand deliver fishing logs and purchase slips to the nearest DFO Area Office (Goose Bay, Corner Brook, Grand Falls – Windsor, and Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre (NAFC) St. John’s). *NAFC drop-off box is located at the Security Gate and will be accessible Monday to Friday, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, for the duration of any postal services disruption.  

• You may use local courier services available to deliver fishing logs and purchase slips to DFO.
For delivery of commercial fishing logs and purchase slips, mailing addresses and contact information are noted below:

1. Corner Brook
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Area Statistics Office
1 Regent Square
Corner Brook, NL
A2H 7K6
Statistics contact Phone (709) 637-4322 or (709) 637-4323

2. Grand Falls-Windsor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Area Statistics Office
4A Bayley Street, Suite 200
Grand Falls – Windsor, NL
A2A 2T5
Statistics contact Phone (709) 292-5180 or (709) 292-5181

3. St. John’s
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Client Service Center
80 East White Hills Rd
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5X1
Statistics contact Phone (709) 292-5180 or (709) 772-5046

4. Goose Bay
Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Licensing
202 Kelland Drive
P.O. Box 7003, Station C
Goose Bay, NL
A0P 1C0
Statistics contact Phone (709) 636-6653

"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 Atlantic Halibut hook and line (long line) fishery in NAFO Divisions 4RST, for fixed gear vessels less than 65 feet based in Western NL and Southern Labrador that elected to fish in Period 4, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, September 29, 2025. This fishery is open to Vessel class A291 and will close at 2000 hours on October 26, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-215 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-244 comes into effect on September 26, 2025.

"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 Whelk Fishery in 3Ps will close on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 2000 hours. It is expected that the quota will be reached by then.

"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 will open by permit only at 0600 hours on Saturday, September 20, 2025 for vessels with 2025 Bluefin tuna tag numbers: 253530, 253531, 253685, 253686, 253687, 253688, 253689, 253544, 253690, 253615, 253691, 253692, 253711, 253734, 253517, 253863.

Licence conditions will be available through DFO’s National On-line Licencing System for those harvesters who have been contacted.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-229 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-243 comes into effect on September 20, 2025.

"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 2J3KL Northern Cod fishery for the inshore mobile gear fleet (vessel class C175) will open on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 0600 hours and is scheduled to close April 14, 2026. 

Conditions of licence will be available soon through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-216 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-241 comes into effect on September 11, 2025.

"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 the Northern cod fishery will open for fall-only harvesters (vessel class A296) on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 0600 hours. DFO also advises that catch and gear limits for the 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear fleet in the Northern cod fishery (vessel classes A296, A295, and A283) will change for the fall period. The online Conservation Harvesting Plan will be updated to include the in-season adjustments. 

Effective Sunday, September 14, 2025, base authorized catch limits for 3KL-based harvesters are:  
- Regular Season Option = 12,000 lbs. base weekly limit
- Fall Only Option = 24,000 lbs. base trip limit 

New licence conditions for all 3KL-based harvesters will be available soon via the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Activity continues to be closely monitored to ensure the total harvest remains within the inshore fleet allocation. There is approximately 12,800 t remaining for 3KL-based harvesters. Any additional in-season changes or adjustments will be communicated via a Notice to Fishers. 
 
Harvesters are reminded to ensure that catch limits are not exceeded by setting only the amount of fishing gear that is necessary and that fishing gear shall not be left unattended in the water for more than 72 consecutive hours. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-216 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-241 comes into effect on September 11, 2025.

"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 will be closing the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in all Mackerel Fishing Areas as of 1800 hours on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. This notice to stop fishing is for conservation purposes as landings are near the second 220 tonne portion of the total allowable catch (TAC).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-204 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-242 comes into effect on September 10, 2025.

"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