Entries

DFO would like to advise 3KL-based harvesters who selected the fall-only option for the inshore 2J3KL Northern cod fishery of an error in the conditions of licence released yesterday. Amended conditions will be available soon on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

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 3Ps scallop harvesters that the portion of Scallop Fishing Area 11 North of 47°00’N will open on September 15, 2026, and close on December 31, 2026.

Please consult your licence conditions for further information.

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 inshore 2J3KL Northern cod fishery will open on September 13, 2026, at 0600 hours for 3KL-based harvesters who selected the fall-only option (vessel class A296) and will close on April 14, 2027, or until the fleet allocation is taken.

Approximately 9,300 tonnes remain of the 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear allocation.

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

Harvesters are reminded that fishing gear cannot be set prior to the season opening and to ensure that weekly or bi-weekly landing limits are not exceeded by setting only the amount of fishing gear that is necessary.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-165 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-169 will come into effect on September 10, 2026.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 new licence conditions for the fall season will be required for all 2J-based and 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear harvesters of the Northern cod fishery. The fall season will commence on September 13, 2026.

Licence conditions will be available soon on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

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) is seeking ‘Expressions of Interest’ from parties/organizations interested in acquiring frozen and/or crushed European Green Crab for the purpose of commercial  composting, shell derivatives or food items for animals/ humans, as part of a use of European Green Crab test case in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region. Interested parties/organizations are asked to contact DFO at DFO.NLAIS-EAETNL.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca before September 25, 2026. The focus of the upcoming test case will be in areas of long-term established populations of European Green Crab and restricted to Lobster Fishing Areas (LFA) 10,11,12,13A/B and 14A.  

If there is a sufficient level of interest, temporary Aquatic Invasive Species control licences will be provided to interested Indigenous groups and existing commercial fish harvesters that would allow the harvesting of European Green Crab for the purpose of composting, shell derivatives or food items for animals/humans. Details regarding the issuance of these licences, including the application process and deadlines, will be communicated via a notice to fish harvesters at a later date. 

Public Notices 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 all Public Notices sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@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 3, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, September 7, 2026. This fishery is open to Vessel class A289 and will close at 2000 hours on September 27, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-166 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-168 will come into force on September 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 directed Cod fishery in NAFO sub-Division 3Ps will close to the Placentia Bay less than 35’ fixed-gear fleet (Vessel Classes A262, A263, and A264) at 1800 hours September 8, 2026, and will reopen at 0600 hours October 15, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-158 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-165 will come into force on September 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.

This NARW Vigilance Advisory is to inform you that North Atlantic right whale(s) have been detected in the area of Conception Bay. As per the 2026 fisheries management measures for the protection of North Atlantic right whale, this detection DOES NOT trigger a fishing prohibition.

We ask that harvesters fishing in the vicinity of this detection operate with heightened caution and maintain increased vigilance.

In the event of accidental contact between your vessel and/or fishing gear and any marine mammal, including a North Atlantic right whale, report the event to DFO using the Marine Mammal Interaction Reporting Form as specified under your conditions of licence and required under s.39 of the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act.

What to do if you see a North Atlantic right whale: 

If you see a free-swimming North Atlantic right whale, report it as soon as possible (ideally the same day or shortly after) to: DFO.GLFWhales-BaleinesGLF.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca and include the following details in your report: 
•    GPS location (latitude and longitude) 
•    Date and time of the sighting 
•    Number of whales observed 
•    Behaviour (for example: feeding, travelling, diving) 
•    Description of animal, highlighting unique markings or features

If possible, photographs and video of the animal, especially of the tail, flukes, and flippers. Please ensure you are complying with the requirements of the Marine Mammal Regulations (minimum approach distances) and taking photos from a safe location using your camera’s zoom function.

If you see an injured, stranded, entangled or dead North Atlantic right whale, please contact:  

Whale Release and Strandings
1-888-895-3003

Be prepared to note: 
•    Date, time, and location (lat./long.) of animal 
•    Behaviours of the animal observed 
•    Entangling gear, if present 
•    Visible injuries 
 
Keep your distance and follow the Marine Mammal Regulations. 

Do not touch or move an animal yourself because: 
•    you may accidentally harm it or yourself 
•    it may carry diseases that could transfer to you 
 
Please see Watching marine wildlife for more information.

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 reminds anglers of the following trout angling season closures:

- Zone 1 (Insular Newfoundland) will close to trout angling on September 7, 2026. Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout angling in selected areas on the Avalon Peninsula and East Coast areas will continue until October 7, 2026.

- Zones 2 and 4 will close to trout angling on September 7, 2026.

- Zones 3, 5 and 6 will close to trout angling on September 15, 2026.

- These closures include the Churchill River Drainage Basin Watershed which closes on September 7, 2026 and the Eagle Plateau Management Zone which closes on September 15, 2026.

Details on the regulations pertaining to bag limits, river classification, closed areas, and special management areas are contained in the Anglers' Guide 2026-2027.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-152, 2026-153, 2026-154, and 2026-155 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-159, 2026-160, 2026-161, and 2026-162 will come into effect on September 2, 2026.

Notices to Anglers 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 all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO reminders anglers of the following Salmon angling season closures:

Labrador:
Salmon Fishing Areas 1, 2, and 14B will close to Salmon angling on September 15, 2026.

Insular Newfoundland:
Salmon Fishing Areas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14A will close to Salmon angling on September 7, 2026.

Fall angling
Fall catch and release Salmon angling is permitted on the Lower Humber River, Gander River, and Lower Exploits Rivers from September 8 to October 7, 2026. Retention of Salmon is not permitted. Catch-and-Release angling is permitted as follows:
- On the main stem of Lower Exploits River, from Stoney Brook to river mouth;
- On the main stem of Lower Humber River, from Boom Siding (outlet of Deer Lake) to lower end of Shellbird Island;
- On the main stem of Gander River from outlet on Gander Lake to river mouth.
- Angling is not permitted on any tributaries of these rivers;
- There is a daily catch-and-release limit of three Salmon;

Please refer to the Angler's Guide 2026-2027 for more detailed information.

Log Returns
Anglers are reminded to complete their Salmon angling log. Angling log data is an important tool in the stock assessment process. If you purchased a license and did not fish, it is important to let us know. If you did fish, please record your daily angling activity as accurately as possible and submit. Check the appropriate box and submit your form. The Salmon angling log can be found online at Salmon Angling Return Form.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-156 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-163 will come into effect on September 2, 2026.

Notices to Anglers 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 all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.