NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

DFO advises Lobster Fishing Area 11 West (West of Western Head, Hare Bay) will open at 0600 hours, April 27, 2026, and close June 30, 2026 at 2000 hours.

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.

Harvesters are also reminded they are permitted to harvest bait for the lobster fishery as per the conditions of their bait license.

Harvesters in LFA 11 are reminded that the portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 (Penguin Islands) bounded by lines connecting the following points remains closed:

Point North Latitude West Longitude
1. 47° 22' 01.8" N 57° 01' 01.0" W
2. 47° 23' 48.6" N 57° 01' 01.0" W
3. 47° 23' 53.2" N 57° 56' 54.5" W
4. 47° 22' 01.8" N 57° 56' 54.5" W.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-040 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-042 will come into force on April 25, 2026.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 commercial Scallop fishery in Area 9 (Inner St. Mary's Bay) in NAFO Division 3L will close at 2000 hours April 23, 2026 for all harvesters, including harvesters in Vessel Class C4701.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-031 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-041 comes into effect at 1800 hours on April 23, 2026.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 Lobster Fishing Area 11 West (West of Western Head, Hare Bay) scheduled to open at 0600 hours, April 25, 2026, is delayed. A further announcement will be made when an opening date has been decided.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-037 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-040 will come into force on April 24, 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 details of the management measures for the 2026 to 2028 Scallop fishery, NAFO sub-division 3Ps (Inshore >50’ Fleet), in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

2026-2028 Scallop fishery, NAFO sub-division 3Ps (Inshore)

Pêche du pétoncle de 2026 à 2028, sous-division 3Ps de l’OPANO (pêche côtière)

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 Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn, for vessels less than 65 feet using hook and line gear, will close at 2000 hours April 22, 2026 due to incidental catch of Cod exceeding the established protocols.

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 April 22, 2026 at 0600 hours and close on May 1, 2026 at 2200 hours in Trinity Bay, Herring Fishing Area 6.

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 2026-028 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-038 comes into effect on April 22, 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 Lobster Fishing Area 11 West (West of Western Head, Hare Bay) will open at 0600 hours, April 25, 2026, and close June 28, 2026 at 2000 hours.

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.

Harvesters are also reminded they are permitted to harvest bait for the lobster fishery as per the conditions of their bait license.

Harvesters in LFA 11 are reminded that the portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 (Penguin Islands) bounded by lines connecting the following points remains closed:

Point North Latitude West Longitude
1. 47° 22' 01.8" N 57° 01' 01.0" W
2. 47° 23' 48.6" N 57° 01' 01.0" W
3. 47° 23' 53.2" N 57° 56' 54.5" W
4. 47° 22' 01.8" N 57° 56' 54.5" W.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-034 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-037 will come into force on April 21, 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 at the request of industry, Crab Fishing Area 3C will NOT open on April 19, 2026 as previously announced.  Crab Management Area 3C will now open at 0001 hours on April 26, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground.

Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 26, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-026 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-036 comes into effect on April 18, 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 the 4R and 3Pn portions of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (vessels less than 65 feet) will reopen to NL based harvester with Reserve Allocation for vessel class C435. The fishery will open at 0600 hours on April 18, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2026-030 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-035 comes into force on April 18, 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 harvesters who want to participate in the 2026 <65' fixed gear fishery for Greenland Halibut (turbot) in 2+3K or 3LMNO, that they must submit their Expression of Interest to Fisheries and Oceans by 1700 hours, May 3, 2026.

For 2026, NAFO division 2+3K will be managed using permits. The permit amount will be dependent on the number of Expressions of Interests received. The tentative opening for this fishery will be June 15, 2026, and the permit will remain valid for 5 weeks.

A subsequent draw may be conducted for area 2+3K in order to harvest any quota that was not taken during the initial permit period. All expressions of interests will be automatically included in the draw unless otherwise indicated in the expression of interest. Please write "decline draw" in your e-mail if you do not wish to have your name included.

For 2026, NAFO division 3LMNO will be managed by trip limits. The trip limits for 3LMNO will be 65,000 lbs (round weight). The tentative opening for this fishery will be May 20, 2026 and will remain open until the quota has been taken.

Fish harvesters are required to email their Expression of Interest to Resource Management at Kelly.Firmage-OBrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

In your e-mail please include the following:

Name:
FIN:
Address:
Phone #:
E-mail address:
VRN#:
Area selected: 2+3K or 3LMNO or Both areas
For 2+3K: Do you wish to be included in the draw? Yes or No

A valid e-mail address must be included in the application as all future correspondence will be conducted by email. 

Late applications will not be accepted.

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