Entries

DFO advises that the directed Cod fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will open to inshore fixed gear fleets at 0600 hours on May 15, 2026.

DFO wishes to remind inshore fixed-gear harvesters that as outlined in their conditions of licence, all cod caught, whether from directed catch or by-catch, will be charged against the harvester’s IQ for their licence in 3Ps. Once a harvester has caught their cod IQ, whether it is a result of directed fishing or as by-catch, the harvester must cease fishing for all species of groundfish in 3Ps for the remainder of the year.

DFO will closely monitor landings from the directed 3Ps cod fishery. This fishery may close to the individual inshore fixed-gear fleets once they reach their respective fleet allocations and will close to the entire inshore fixed-gear sector once the sector’s allocation is reached.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the Snow Crab fishery will open at 0600 hours on May 15, 2026, for 2J (South) and will close at 2400 hours on July 11, 2026.

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 0600 hours on May 18, 2026 is prohibited.

License fees and license conditions are available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-050 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-057 will come into force on May 12, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, sea scallops, northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks) for recreational or commercial purposes, effective 1600 hours on Friday, May 8, 2026 for a portion of Tommy's Arm, Notre Dame Bay as defined by those waters located inside of the following points:

49.472659° N, 55.760129° W,
49.467834° N, 55.772489° W,
49.468113° N, 55.762232° W,
49.471515° N, 55.765108° W,
49.470037° N, 55.789312° W,
49.46471° N, 55.785578° W.

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 Order NSN-2025-002 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on May 8, 2026.  

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website:  Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, sea scallops, northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks) for recreational or commercial purposes, effective 1600 hours on Friday, May 8, 2026 for a portion of Tommy's Arm, Notre Dame Bay as defined by those waters located inside of the following points:

49.472659° N, 55.760129° W,
49.467834° N, 55.772489° W,
49.468113° N, 55.762232° W,
49.471515° N, 55.765108° W,
49.470037° N, 55.789312° W,
49.46471° N, 55.785578° W.

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 Order NSN-2025-002 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on May 8, 2026.  

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website:  Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, sea scallops, northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks) for recreational or commercial purposes, effective 1600 hours on Friday, May 8, 2026 for a portion of Tommy's Arm, Notre Dame Bay as defined by those waters located inside of the following points:

49.472659° N, 55.760129° W,
49.467834° N, 55.772489° W,
49.468113° N, 55.762232° W,
49.471515° N, 55.765108° W,
49.470037° N, 55.789312° W,
49.46471° N, 55.785578° W.

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 Order NSN-2025-002 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on May 8, 2026.  

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website:  Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

DFO advises fish harvesters of the following opening and closing lobster fishing areas:

LFA 14B (Point Riche to Big Brook) will open at 0600 hours on May 10, 2026 and close at 2000 hours on July 7, 2026;

LFA 14C (Big Brook to Cape Bauld) will open at 0600 hours on May 16, 2026 and close at 2000 hours on July 13, 2026.

Harvesters are reminded that they are not permitted to retrieve fishing gear or possess lobsters during the initial 48-hour gear-setting period after the opening date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-048 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-051 comes into effect on May 8, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
 

DFO advises fish harvesters that the Snow crab fishery in Crab Fishing Area 12D will close at 2000 hours on May 10, 2026.

All gear must be removed from the water by closing time.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-043 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-050 will come into force on May 7, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the Fixed Gear (Tuck Seine) Herring fishery will open by permit only on May 5, 2026 at 0600 hours and close on May 19, 2026 at 2200 hours in Bonavista Bay, Herring Fishing Area 5.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO's National Online Licensing System (NOLS) for those harvesters who have been contacted for the above date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-038 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-049 comes into effect on May 5, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the Scallop fishery in the 3Ps North Bed in Scallop Fishing Area (SFA) 11 will open at 0600 hours on May 10, 2026.

If you are a 3Ps Scallop licence holder with vessel eligibility of >50' and you are interested in fishing Scallop on the North Bed in 2026, please contact DFO through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) to request access and an application for a permit. Requests will be reviewed in accordance with applicable policy to determine eligibility and whether access will be granted.

A Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) or Observer coverage is required to fish in the North Bed scallop area.

Fish harvesters are reminded that fishing is not permitted in the Middle Bed, Southern Bed, or the Core Area. These areas are defined in your licence conditions.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-041 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-047 will come into force on May 2, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca