Entries

This notice is for recipients of overpayment letters issued under the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant (FHBG) Program that face repayment obligations.

The FHBG Program has decided to waive interest payments on overpayment amounts owing until January 1, 2023, on which date the calculation of interest will commence on unpaid overpayment amounts owing.

This waiver applies to overpayment letters issued during phase one and/or phase two of the Program.

In waiving interest payments in this way, the Program hopes to provide some flexibility to individuals who have repayment obligations, and might benefit from the additional time and opportunity to earn income from upcoming fisheries without facing interest charges.

If you received an overpayment letter, were successful in appealing the overpayment finding, and found not to have a net amount owing, then you have no repayment obligation.

If you are unsure of any repayment obligations, please contact Service Canada's call centre at: 1-833-674-8283, TTY: 1-800-465-7735.

Additional information can be found on the program's website (Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program)

DFO INSHORE FISHERY OUTREACH MEETINGS (NAFO DIVISON 3K) - White Bay, Notre Dame Bay

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 policy. 

The proposed agenda is as follows: 

1.    Introduction. 

2.    Licencing requests, NOLS and service standards. 

3.    Vessel Replacement Policy  

4.    Inshore Regulations.   

5.    Open Agenda. 

There will be an Additional meeting for Fish Harvesters on the Great Northern Peninsula, and more information will be released in the near future.

Meeting 1: Participants from White Bay and Notre Dame Bay

February 21, 2022: 7pm-9pm

Join Zoom Meeting

OR

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

        +1 647 558 0588 Canada

        +1 778 907 2071 Canada

        +1 204 272 7920 Canada

        +1 438 809 7799 Canada

        +1 587 328 1099 Canada

        +1 647 374 4685 Canada

Meeting ID: 839 4230 3516

Passcode: 183150 

"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 inshore snow crab harvesters in NAFO division 3L, that due to a technical problem, the quota reconciliation letters that were recently mailed out contain the incorrect amounts to be reconciled.  

Revised quota reconciliation letters have been sent out.  

"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 would like to remind harvesters that the fixed gear herring fishery for NAFO Sub division 3Ps Herring Fishing Areas 11 (Fortune Bay - east of Pass Island) was opened at 0600 hours on January 31, 2022 for gillnets only.

DFO reminds fish harvesters to complete all applicable fishing logs.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-005 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-006 comes into effect on February 12, 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 inshore crab harvesters in Crab Fishing Areas 6A and 6B that, at the request of industry, the following quota differentials will be implemented for the 2022 crab fishing season:

Crab Fishing Area 6A - Trinity Bay - the 2022 differential will be 1500 lbs.

Crab Fishing Area 6B - Conception Bay - the 2022 differential will be 2080 lbs.

"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

Molluscan Shellfish Harvesting Emergency Closures due to Significant Rainfall - East and South Coast of Newfoundland

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 on February 7, 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.

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 and NSN-2022-002 comes into effect at 1200 hours on February 7, 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)

DFO wishes to advise Crab Harvesters who had submitted their 3L Area Selection forms via fax, between January 24 and February 1, 2022 that due to an error with the machine all forms should be re-sent. Please retain a confirmation report from your fax machine as proof of fax submission. 

Forms can be faxed to: 709-772-5634

Applications must be received by close of business day on February 18, 2022.

"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

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 Beneficial Ownership Survey is now available for completion. It will remain open from January 31 to March 31, 2022.

The Survey is mandatory for all:

• Party-based licence holders in Pacific Region
• Contact vessel owners for vessels that hold vessel-based licences in Pacific Region
• Offshore, mid-shore, exempted fleet, and inshore Elver licence holders in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Arctic Region

Communal-commercial licence holders issued under the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations (ACFLR) are exempt from the Survey, unless they also hold on the West coast a party-based licence or own vessels that have been issued vessel-based licences; or hold on the East coast a mid-shore, offshore or exempted fleet licence. Atlantic inshore licence holders subject to the inshore regulation (Atlantic Fishery Regulations, Part III) are also exempt from the Survey. 

The Survey will help DFO gather information about who is benefitting from having access to commercial fishing across Canada. The Beneficial Ownership Survey is mandatory and failure to provide required information through the Survey constitutes a prosecutable offence under section 78 of the Fisheries Act.

For detailed information about the Survey, including who needs to complete it, how to complete it, and the contact information that inquires can be forwarded to, please visit us at: Beneficial Ownership Survey.

The Survey will be available until March 31, 2022, we encourage you to complete it as soon as possible.

DFO advises that the gillnet herring fishery for NAFO Sub division 3Ps Herring Fishing Areas 11 (Fortune Bay - east of Pass Island) will open at 06:00 hours on Monday, January 31, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2021-286 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-005 comes into effect on January 29, 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: dave.parsons@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO reminds anglers that the 2022 Trout and Smelt winter angling seasons in non-scheduled waters throughout Newfoundland and Labrador are 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 2021/22 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, 2022 (refer to the 2020/21 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 2021/22 Angler's Guide, which is available online at Anglers' Guide 2021-2022

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