Entries

DFO advises Newfoundland and Labrador Seal harvesters that the seal fishery will re-open in Sealing Areas 4 to 23 and Sealing Areas 25 to 27 at 0600 hours on April 8, 2022.

The fishery will open for Front Longliners, Areas 5 to 8 Small Boats and Speed Boats, all Area 4 vessels and for Gulf Longliners, Gulf Small Boats, Gulf Speed Boats as well as Personal Use. This includes License Classes N100 to N106, N200 to N204, N300 to N302, and N400-N401.

DFO further advises Seal harvesters having a homeport located between Big Brook to Noddy Bay inclusive, operating from vessels less than 40 feet, License Classes N203 and N204, that a portion of Sealing Area 5 will also open for Seals at 0600 hours on April 8, 2022.

This "buffer zone" lies inside lines extending from:

The land at 51°18" North, 55° 36" West, to

51°18" North, 54°30" West, to

51°42" North, 54°30" West, to

51°42" North, 55°27" West, to

The land at 51° 30" North, 55 26" West.

Commercial Seal harvesters based in the Front will have access to the Gulf and commercial Seal harvesters based in the Gulf will have access to the Front.

Seal harvesters are advised to check with their buyers to confirm a market for their Seals before going Sealing.

Seal harvesters are reminded that licences and licence conditions are available through DFO's National Online Licencing System.

Additionally, all Commercial and Personal Use Sealers are reminded that landings must be hailed in daily, as per licence conditions.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-009 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-020 is in effect as of April 2, 2022.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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Snow Crab fishery will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Monday, April 4, 2022 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground, and gear can be set 6 hours later at 6:00 am on Monday, April 4, 2022 for the following areas:

• Outside of 8 mile
• Bay of Islands
• Bay St. George
• 12A
• 12B
• 12C
• 12D
• 12E
• 12F

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 6:00 am on Monday April 4, 2022 is prohibited.

The Snow Crab fishery will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Monday, April 11, 2022 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground, and gear can be set 6 hours later at 6:00 am on Monday, April 11, 2022 for the following areas:

• 12G
• 12H

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 6:00 am on Monday April 11, 2022 is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2021-304 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-019 comes into effect on April 1, 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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Snow Crab fishery will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Monday, April 4, 2022 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground, and gear can be set 6 hours later at 6:00 am on Monday, April 4, 2022 for the following areas:

- Inshore Crab fishing areas in 3L

- Inshore Crab fishing areas in 3Ps

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 6:00 am on Monday April 4, 2022 is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2021-304 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-019 comes into effect on April 1, 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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Snow Crab fishery will open at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground for the following:

- 3L Small Supps, 3L Large Supps, 3L Fulltime and 3L Greater than 65’ fleets

- 3Ps Supplementary fleet

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 6:00AM on Monday April 4, 2022 is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2021-304 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-019 comes into effect on April 1, 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 Fixed Gear Herring (gillnet/trap) fishery for Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay, Conception Bay, the Southern Avalon and St. Mary's Bay, (Herring Fishing Areas 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) will open at 0600 hours on Friday, April 1st, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-013 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-017 comes into effect on April 1, 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 Fixed Gear Herring (bar/tuck seine) fishery for Bonavista Bay and Trinity Bay, (Herring Fishing Areas 5 and 6) will open at 0600 hours on Friday, April 1, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-013 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-017 comes into effect on April 1, 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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the details of the 2022 management measures and quota levels for the Snow Crab fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

2022 Snow crab fishery, Newfoundland and Labrador

"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

The Minister is implementing a closure of all Atlantic mackerel commercial and bait fishing in Atlantic Canada and Quebec to allow the stock to rebuild. The Department will take the necessary steps and notify affected licence holders about any refund to which they may be entitled.

The results of the 2021 Atlantic mackerel stock assessment indicate the stock has declined further into the critical zone. Scientific analyses indicate that the Atlantic mackerel stock is overfished and that fishing mortality is a significant influence on stock status.

Please be advised that the recreational and food, social and ceremonial fisheries will remain open. The Department will monitor these fisheries throughout the season to ensure that removals do not undermine the goal of rebuilding Atlantic mackerel.

DFO is committed to supporting the future opening of the Atlantic mackerel commercial and bait fisheries. Future access to the Atlantic mackerel fishery will be dependent on the duration of the closure and the health of the stock when the moratorium is lifted. Next steps for this fishery will be considered following the Atlantic mackerel stock assessment in 2023.

DFO reminds harvesters involved in groundfish fisheries throughout NAFO Division 4R, that various fisheries will begin to open in the next few weeks. Harvesters are reminded that a portion of NAFO sub-Division 4Rd and 4Rc (Bay St. George and Port au Port Bay), is closed to ALL groundfish fishing until midnight, Thursday, June 23, 2022.

The purpose of this closure is to protect the Cod spawning activity occurring in this area.

The specific area of the closure is near the entrance to Bay St. George and Port au Port Bay, defined by straight lines drawn from the following coordinates:

- 48 degrees 15" North, 59 degrees 20" west, to

- 49 degrees 10" North, 59 degrees 20" west, to

- 49 degrees 10" North, 60 degrees 00" west, to

- 48 degrees 15" North, 60 degrees 00" west, to

- 48 degrees 15" North, 59 degrees 20" west.

"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 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 1, 2022.

DFO will monitor fishing activity and will close the fishery if the incidental catch of Cod exceeds the 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.

"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