NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-043 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-050 will come into force on May 7, 2026.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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-038 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-049 comes into effect on May 5, 2026.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

DFO advises that the 3Ps Scallop fishery in the Core Area will open at 0600 hours on May 10, 2026.

Access to Iceland scallop in the Core Area is available by trip permit for the 6 traditional harvesters. For the 2026 season, access to Iceland scallop in the Core Area will also be available by trip permit to non-traditional harvesters. If you are a 3Ps scallop licence holder in the >50’ fleet and wish to receive a permit, please contact DFO through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) to request access and an application for a permit.

Access to Iceland scallop in the Core Area is limited to a maximum of 3 harvesters at any one time. Priority will be provided to issuing permits to the traditional harvesters.

Fish harvesters are reminded that they must have at-sea observer coverage services arranged before commencing fishing.

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.

DFO advises fish harvesters that LFA 14A (Cape St. Gregory to Point Riche) will open at 0600 hours on May 3, 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.

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

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-046 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-048 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.

DFO wishes to remind 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

DFO advises that the directed fishery for Atlantic halibut in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will open to the inshore fixed–gear fleet (fixed-gear vessels less than 65 feet - Vessel Classes A251, A254, A257, A260, A263, A266, A269, A272, A275, and A279) at 0600 hours on May 4, 2026.

Participants in this fishery will have weekly catch limits for Atlantic halibut. Provisions for this fishery are outlined in the species-specific and Groundfish General Licence Conditions, which are available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Inshore fixed-gear harvesters are further reminded that as per conditions of licence, the daily by-catch limit of cod when directing for Atlantic halibut in 3Ps is limited to 10 percent or 200 pounds round weight, whichever is greater. DFO will monitor fishing activity and will close the fishery if the by-catch of cod exceeds the established protocols.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-023 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-045 will come into force on May 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 3Ps harvesters that lobster fishing Area 10 (Placentia Bay), will open 0600 hours May 2, 2026, and close 2000 hours July 11, 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; as well LFA 10 conditions prohibit gear retrieval between 2100 hours (9 p.m.) on Saturday and 0500 hours (5 a.m.) on Monday.

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

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-044 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-046 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.

DFO wishes to remind 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

DFO advises that at the request of industry, Crab Fishing Area 3C will NOT open on April 26, 2026 as previously announced.  Crab Management Area 3C will now open at 0001 hours on May 3, 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 May 3, 2026, is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-036 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-043 comes into effect 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.