NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

DFO advises that the directed Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn, for vessels less than 65 feet using hook and line gear, will open at 0600 hours on April 9, 2026.

The Atlantic halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn will close should the bycatch of cod exceed established protocols.

Fish harvesters are reminded that:

- All licence holders are required to hail-out, at least three hours before leaving port, to the DFO toll-free number at 1-877-637-4315.

- All catch must be reported for applicable hails and Dockside Monitoring services.

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 harvesters that the Shrimp fishery in Shrimp Fishing Area 8 for the Western NL fleet is open.

Fishing is authorized to begin once licence holders pay their licence fees and receive their licence conditions. Licence fees and licence conditions are currently being uploaded in 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 wishes to advise lobster harvesters that a declaration is required for Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 11W for the 2026 season.

Please note a declaration is only required if you intend to fish in LFA 11W (that portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 west of Western Head, Hare Bay).

All LFA 11 harvesters that do not declare their intention to fish in LFA 11W will be issued a license to fish in LFA 11E (that portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 located east of Western Head, Hare Bay).

PLEASE NOTE:

Declarations must be requested through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Declarations must be received by close of business day April 16, 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 advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3K will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Area 4 will open at 0600 hours on April 2, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. 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 April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 3A and 3D will open at 0001 hours on April 5, 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 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Area 3BC will open at 0600 hours on April 11, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 24 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on April 12, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Area 3B will open at 0001 hours on April 12, 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 12, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Area 3C will open at 0001 hours on April 19, 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 19, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-275 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-026 comes into effect on April 1, 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 advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3LNO will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Areas NS, MS, 8B, 8Bx, 8Bx North, 8Bx South, Msex, 3Lex, 3N200, 3L200, 3NO200 will open at 0600 hours on April 2, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. 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 April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 5A, 6A, 6B, 6C, 8A and 9A will open at 0001 hours on April 5, 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 5, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-275 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-026 comes into effect on April 1, 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 advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3Ps will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Areas 10B and 11S will open at 0600 hours on April 2, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. 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 April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 10A, 11E and 11W will open at 0001 hours on April 5, 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 0600 hours on April 5, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-275 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-026 comes into effect on April 1, 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 advises that the Snow Crab fishery will open at 0001 hours on April 5, 2026, for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground for the following areas:

- Outside of 8 mile
- Bay of Islands
- Bay St. George
- 12A
- 12B
- 12C
- 12D
- 12E
- 12F
- 12G
- 12H

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 5, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-275 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-026 comes into effect on April 1, 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 Newfoundland and Labrador Seal harvesters that the Commercial and Personal Use Seal fishery will re-open in Sealing Areas 4 to 23 and Sealing Areas 25 to 27 at 0600 hours on April 6, 2026. 

Commercial Seal harvesters based in the Front have access to the Gulf and commercial Seal harvesters based in the Gulf have access to the Front.

Commercial Seal harvesters are advised to check with their buyers to confirm a market for their Seals before going Sealing.

Seal harvesters are reminded that licences and licence conditions are available through DFO's National Online Licencing System.

Additionally, all Commercial and Personal Use Sealers are reminded that landings must be hailed in daily, as per licence conditions.

NOTE: the Ringed seal fishery in Sealing Area 4 remains closed. A public notice will be issued for this fishery at a later date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-014 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-025 comes into effect on March 31, 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 4R3Pn and 3Ps harvesters that all Units 1 and 2 Redfish fisheries in all fleets, will close 2400 hours March 31, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-016 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-024 will come into force on March 31, 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 Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec-based vessel classes A520, A701 to A900 and A2343-A2345 will open at 0500 hours EDT April 1, 2026 and close at 2359 hours EDT on April 28, 2026.

DFO reminds harvesters that a portion of NAFO sub-Division 4Rd and 4Rc (Bay St. George and Port au Port Bay), is closed to ALL groundfish fishing until midnight, June 23, 2026. The purpose of this closure is to protect the Cod spawning activity occurring in this area.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-019 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-023 comes into effect on March 31, 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.