Entries

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (including Arctic wedge clams, Softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, American oysters, Iceland scallops, Purple-hinge rock scallop, sea scallops) for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1200 hours (noon) on Monday, February 28, 2022:

East Coast of Newfoundland: from Bald Head (east of Little Heart's Ease) in Trinity Bay at coordinate 47.990310,-53.635224, east to Brigus Head (near Brigus South / Cape Broyle) at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691.

and

South and East Coast of Newfoundland: from Friar Head in Fortune Bay at coordinate 47.5853, -55.0787 east to Brigus Head near South Brigus/ Cape Broyle at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691.

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Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Orders NSN-2022-002 and NSN-2022-004 have been repealed effective 1200 hours (noon) Monday, February 28, 2022.

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 a virtual Outreach meeting will be held this evening for NAFO Division 3L - Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay and Conception Bay.

Meeting Information:

Participants from Bonavista, Trinity and Conception Bay

February 28, 2022: 7pm-9pm

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 Department would also like to take the opportunity to discuss recent changes to various licensing processes and to seek input on the vessel replacement length policy. 

The proposed agenda is as follows: 

1.    Introduction. 

2.    Licencing requests, NOLS and service standards. 

3.    Vessel Replacement Length Policy  

4.    Inshore Regulations.   

5.    Open Agenda. 

Join Zoom Meeting

OR

Dial by using any of the Canadian numbers below and entering the meeting ID and passcode provided:

        +1 778 907 2071 

        +1 204 272 7920 

        +1 438 809 7799 

        +1 587 328 1099 

        +1 647 374 4685 

        +1 647 558 0588 

Meeting ID: 837 9271 5313

Passcode: 128614 

There will be an Additional meeting for Fish Harvesters on the Southern Shore and St. Mary's Bay area, and more information will be released in the near future.

"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

DFO wishes to advise inshore snow crab harvesters that the 2022 Buddy-up Application is available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) National Online Licensing System

The inshore snow crab buddy-up application can be downloaded and submitted by following Step-By-Step Instructions through NOLS Submitting a Request and Checking the Request Status: Step-by-Step

-              Select Submit Request

-              Select Request Type – Partnership/Pooling/Buddy Up

-              Select Request Subtype – Snow Crab (Less than 40’ fleet)

-              Select the Instructions link to open and save or print the application

-              Complete and sign the application (Fish Harvester A and Fish Harvester B must sign the same application. 

-              Save a Scanned copy or picture of the signed application 

-              Select Browse to attach the signed application to your request

-              Select Submit

Any harvesters experiencing issues with accessing their online NOLS account, should contact the NOLS Support Line 1-877-535-7307 to have the issue resolved.

“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 3Ps remains open for fixed gear vessels less than 65 feet using longlines (Vessel Class A440).  A closing date for this season's fishery will be communicated at a later date.  

Harvesters are reminded that to participate in any groundfish fishery in 3Ps they must have remaining Individual cod Quota. 

Inshore fixed-gear harvesters are further reminded that as per conditions of licence, the daily by-catch limit of cod when directing for Atlantic halibut in 3Ps is limited to 10 per cent or 200 pounds round weight, whichever is greater.  DFO will monitor fishing activity and will close the fishery if the by-catch of cod exceeds the established protocols.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2021-310 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-007 comes into effect on February 26, 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 cod fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will close to all fleets at 2400 hours on Monday, February 28, 2022. All fishing gear must be removed from the water by closing time. This closure applies to all vessel classes. 

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

"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 (DFO) advises the public of the closure for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge clams, Softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, American oysters, Iceland scallops, Purple-hinge rock scallop (excluding sea scallop) for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1200 hours (noon) on February 24, 2022:

From Friar Head in Fortune Bay at coordinate 47.5853, -55.0787 east to Brigus Head near South Brigus/ Cape Broyle at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691 BUT excluding those waters of Big South West Arm in Merasheen Island.

Note: This closure is an update of the February 7, 2022 closure for this area to re-open only the waters of Big South West Arm in Merasheen Island.  The closure for the remaining area between Friar Head and Brigus Head is still in effect as noted above.

As a result, there is reason to believe that the sanitary conditions of the adjacent marine waters may have degraded to the point where accepted water quality standards have been exceeded and the contamination of the water would likely pose a risk to public health if shellfish in the affected area were harvested for consumption.

More detailed information on these 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 Orders NSN-2022-001 is revoked and NSN-2022-004 comes into effect at 1200 hours on February 24, 2022.

In accordance with Appendix VIII of the CSSP Manual of Operations, these areas must remain closed for a minimum of seven days. There will be a Public Notice when the closure is lifted.

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 a virtual Outreach meeting will be held this evening for NAFO Division 4R 3K - Great Northern Peninsula.

Meeting Information: 

Participants from the Great Northern Peninsula

         February 24, 2022: 7pm-9pm

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 Department would also like to take the opportunity to discuss recent changes to various licensing processes and to seek input on the vessel replacement length policy . 

The proposed agenda is as follows: 

1.    Introduction. 

2.    Licencing requests, NOLS and service standards. 

3.    Vessel Replacement Length Policy  

4.    Inshore Regulations.   

5.    Open Agenda. 

Join Zoom Meeting

OR

Dial by using any of the Canadian numbers below and entering the meeting ID and passcode provided:

        +1 587 328 1099 

        +1 647 374 4685 

        +1 647 558 0588 

        +1 778 907 2071 

        +1 204 272 7920 

        +1 438 809 7799 

Meeting ID: 850 4593 7470

Passcode: 753316

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

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise that virtual 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 Department would also like to take the opportunity to discuss recent changes to various licensing processes and to seek input on the vessel replacement length policy. 

The proposed agenda is as follows: 

1. Introduction. 

2. Licencing requests, NOLS and service standards. 

3. Vessel Replacement Length Policy 

4. Inshore Regulations. 

5. Open Agenda. 

3Ps Outreach

Mar 2, 2022 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM Newfoundland and Labrador

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 985 0576 6242

Passcode: 394050

OR

Dial by using any of the Canadian numbers below and entering the meeting ID and passcode provided:

1 204 272 7920 

1 438 809 7799 

1 587 328 1099 

1 647 374 4685 

1 647 558 0588 

1 778 907 2071 

Meeting ID: 985 0576 6242

Passcode: 394050

DFO advises inshore crab harvesters in Crab Fishing Area 5A that, at the request of industry, the following quota differential will be implemented for the 2022 crab fishing season: 

Crab Fishing Area 5A - Bonavista Bay - the 2022 differential will be 1,500 lbs. 

As a result of this change, Area Selection applications will be accepted until COB, Friday March 4th, 2022 for Bonavista Bay harvesters who wish to change their area as a result of this reduction. 

Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center or detachment office by phone or e-mail. Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licencing System (NOLS). 

Please note Area Selection Applications only need to be completed if you are looking to move areas. If you do not fill out the form you will remain in the area you were licensed for in 2021. 

Applications can be returned to the following address: 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

Client Services Centre- Eastern, Central and Labrador 

Attn: Terri Healey 

PO Box 5667 

St. John's, NL A1C 5X1 

Email: Terri.Healey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca     

FAX # 709-772-5634 

"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

REMINDER: DFO INSHORE FISHERY OUTREACH MEETINGS NAFO DIVISON 4R3Pn

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to remind harvesters that a virtual Outreach meeting will be held this evening for NAFO Division 4R3Pn.

Meeting Information:

Meeting: Participants from 4R3Pn

February 23, 2022: 7pm-9pm

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 Department would also like to take the opportunity to discuss recent changes to various licensing processes and to seek input on the vessel length/replacement policy. 

The proposed agenda is as follows: 

1. Introduction 

2. Licencing requests, NOLS and service standards 

3. Vessel Length/Replacement Policy 

4. Inshore Regulations 

5. Open Agenda 

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 895 8422 6495

Passcode: 839496

OR

Dial by using any of the Canadian numbers below and entering the meeting ID and passcode provided:

+1 438 809 7799 

+1 587 328 1099 

+1 647 374 4685 

+1 647 558 0588 

+1 778 907 2071 

+1 204 272 7920 

Meeting ID: 895 8422 6495

Passcode: 839496