Entries

DFO advises that the Capelin fixed gear fishery using traps and bar seine (including modified bar seine known as "tuck seine"), for the large vessel fleet (less than 65 feet (19.8m)) in the following area will open at 0600 hours on June 26, 2024:

Capelin Fishing Area 14 from Point Riche to Cape Bauld

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2024-091 has been revoked and Variation Order 2024-095 comes into effect on June 26, 2024.

"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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closure to harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (including 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, northern moon snails, waved whelks, Stimpson's whelks, except sea scallops) for recreational or commercial purposes effective 1800 hours Friday, June 21, 2024 for that portion of Tommy's Arm bounded by the shoreline and a series of straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:

49.47304 N 55.75942 W, to a point at  
49.46774 N 55.76196 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 
49.46464 N 55.78563 W, to a point at 
49.47014 N 55.78963 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 
49.47103 N 55.77843 W, to a point at 
49.47234 N 55.77005, then along the shoreline back to the point of commencement.

More detailed information on other 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-2024-002 comes into effect 1800hrs Friday, June 21, 2024. 

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

DFO advises that the 3Ps Greenland Halibut (Turbot) fishery for vessels less than and greater than 65' using gillnets and hook and line gear, will open at 0600 hours on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

“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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO wishes to advise fixed gear capelin license holders with homeports in Green Bay and the portion of White Bay from Hampden to Cape John that the 2024 buddy-up applications are available.

Harvesters can request these forms by submitting a request through NOLS National Online Licensing System

- Select Submit Request

- Select Request Type

- Partnership/Pooling/Buddy Up

- Enter “Capelin Buddy-up Application” in the comments section

Please note that Buddy-up Applications MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED each year PRIOR to the start of the 2024 capelin fishing season.

"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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises the Redfish fishery in divisions 4R for vessel class C490 will open from June 25, 2024 at 0001hrs EDT and close August 31, 2024, at 2359hrs EDT. This opening is for specific vessel class(es) that are eligible under the reserve allocation.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2024-009 has been revoked and Variation Order 2024-092 comes into effect on June 25, 2024.

“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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that in accordance with the soft-shell protocol, the following grid in Crab Fishing Area 4 in NAFO Division 3K closed to fishing Snow Crab and Northern Shrimp at midnight on Sunday, June 23, 2024 due to a high incidence of soft-shell crab:

Grid AB 39

This grid will be closed to Snow crab fishing for the remainder of the year. Harvesters should note that all gear in this grid must be removed immediately. Gear must be hauled and not reset on your next fishing trip.

The closure for Northern shrimp is in effect for 60 days, and will re-open on August 21, 2024, if the shrimp fishery is open at that time.

Grid quadrant AB 39 is defined as the area bounded by the following coordinates:

50° 50' North, 54° 00' West;
50° 50' North, 53° 50' West;
50° 40' North, 53° 50' West;
50° 40' North, 54° 00' West; 
50° 50' North, 54° 00' West;

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2024-087 and 2024-088 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2024-093 and 2024-094 come into effect on June 25, 2024.

“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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that in accordance with the soft-shell protocol, the following grid in Crab Fishing Area 4 in NAFO Division 3K closed to fishing Snow Crab and Northern Shrimp at midnight on Sunday, June 23, 2024 due to a high incidence of soft-shell crab:

Grid AB 39

This grid will be closed to Snow crab fishing for the remainder of the year. Harvesters should note that all gear in this grid must be removed immediately. Gear must be hauled and not reset on your next fishing trip.

The closure for Northern shrimp is in effect for 60 days, and will re-open on August 21, 2024, if the shrimp fishery is open at that time.

Grid quadrant AB 39 is defined as the area bounded by the following coordinates:

50° 50' North, 54° 00' West;
50° 50' North, 53° 50' West;
50° 40' North, 53° 50' West;
50° 40' North, 54° 00' West; 
50° 50' North, 54° 00' West;

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2024-087 and 2024-088 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2024-093 and 2024-094 come into effect on June 25, 2024.

“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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that the capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear will open on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 1200 hours (noon) in that portion of Capelin Fishing Area 8 (Southern Shore) in the following area:

Cape Neddick and Cape Pine

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2024-078 has been revoked and Variation Order 2024-091 comes into effect on June 23, 2024.

"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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo-gc.ca

DFO advises that in 2024, the recreational groundfish fishery will be open for a total of 39 days.

For the 2024 season, there is no requirement for a licence or tags.

Species and Area:

The recreational groundfish fishery will occur in all NAFO areas/subareas around Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes 2GH, 2J3KL, 3Ps, 3Pn and 4R. Three exceptions are the Eastport, Gilbert Bay and Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.

Season Dates:

Summer Season:

Saturday, June 29, 2024 to Monday, July 01, 2024
Saturday, July 06, 2024 to Monday, July 08, 2024
Saturday, July 13, 2024 to Monday, July 15, 2024
Saturday, July 20, 2024 to Monday, July 22, 2024
Saturday, July 27, 2024 to Monday, July 29, 2024
Saturday, August 03, 2024 to Monday, August 05, 2024
Saturday, August 10, 2024 to Monday, August 12, 2024
Saturday, August 17, 2024 to Monday, August 19, 2024
Saturday, August 24, 2024 to Monday, August 26, 2024
Saturday, August 31, 2024 to Monday, September 02, 2024

Fall Season:

Saturday, September 21, 2024 to Sunday, September 29, 2024

Recreational fishers are limited to five (5) groundfish per day (including Cod). However, the maximum boat limit when three or more people are fishing is 15 groundfish.

For 2024, tour boat operators will be eligible to apply for a licence to seek an increased trip limit. This licence will have harvest reporting requirements. To apply for this license, please contact DFO.ExperimentalLicensing-Experimental.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca .

Provisions will continue that allow a person with a disability to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish. The disability designation form and details on all applicable Management Measures is available online at Fisheries Management Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2024

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2023-308 and 2023-309 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2024-089 and 2024-090 come into effect on June 22, 2024.

"Public Notices" are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

DFO advises that the fixed gear skate, monkfish and white hake fisheries in NAFO subdivision 3Ps (units d, e, f, g and h) will open at 0600 hours on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

DFO also advises that the retention of Atlantic halibut bycatch by fixed-gear vessels less than 65 feet directing for Skate/Monkfish in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps (units d, e, f, g and h) is permitted. By-catch limits are outlined in harvesters Groundfish General Licence Conditions.

Harvesters are reminded 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 or harvesting cap for their licence in 3Ps. Once a harvester has caught their cod IQ or harvesting cap, whether it is from directed fishing or as by-catch, the harvester must cease fishing for all species of groundfish in 3Ps for the remainder of the year.

Licence conditions are available on the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

“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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca