NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

DFO wishes to advise Crab Harvesters that Area Selection applications are available for Crab Fishing Area 10A. Harvesters can request an application through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Please note: Area Selection Applications only need to be completed if you are looking to move areas.

If you do not fill out the form you will remain in the area you were licensed for in 2025.

Please upload completed application to the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) by the deadline date.

NOTE: COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE NATIONAL ONLINE LICENCING SYSTEM AND RECEIVED BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS DAY FEBRUARY 20, 2026.

Submission of the application does not indicate approval. The final decision will be communicated through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) via appropriate documentation.

"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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) wishes to advise that an in-person Outreach Meeting will be held as follows.

NAFO Division 4R
Wednesday - February 11, 2026, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Northern Lights Inn - L’anse au Clair

These meetings are intended to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to engage in open dialogue regarding matters of concern related to the inshore fisheries.

For further information, please contact your local DFO office.

"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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise Crab Harvesters that Area Selection Applications are available for the following inshore Crab Fishing Areas 5A, 6A, and 6B. Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center or detachment office by phone or e-mail.

Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

Please note: Area Selection Applications only need to be completed if you are looking to move areas.

If you do not fill out the form you will remain in the area you were licensed for in 2025.

Applications must be received by close of business day on February 20, 2026.

Applications can be returned by email to: kelly.firmage-obrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

"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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

As announced in Notice to Fishers nf.26.006, beginning in the 2026 season, electronic logbooks (ELOGs) will be mandatory for the following Snow crab fleets in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region:  

- Large supplementary  
- Small supplementary  
- Supplementary   
- 4R Commercial   

DFO will hold virtual onboarding sessions for harvesters in the above noted fleets to provide details on the 2026 mandatory ELOG requirement. Sessions will be held by NAFO area on the following dates:   

- 2J3K: Wednesday, February 4 at 10:00 am  
- 3L: Wednesday, February 4 at 2:00 pm  
- 4R3P: Thursday, February 5 at 10:00 am   

Harvesters are asked to confirm attendance by emailing Kailey.Noonan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca . Please include your fleet/fishery and specify the date and time of the session you wish to attend. Upon confirmation, a link to the virtual meeting will be provided.  

Electronic logbooks will remain voluntary for all inshore snow crab harvesters in 2026, with mandatory use planned for 2027. DFO will hold information sessions for inshore Snow crab harvesters in the fall of 2026 and will share details at a later date.

"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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

As announced in Notice to Fishers nf.26.006, beginning in the 2026 season, electronic logbooks (ELOGs) will be mandatory for the following Snow crab fleets in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region:  

- Large supplementary  
- Small supplementary  
- Supplementary   
- 4R Commercial   

DFO will hold virtual onboarding sessions for harvesters in the above noted fleets to provide details on the 2026 mandatory ELOG requirement. Sessions will be held by NAFO area on the following dates:   

- 2J3K: Wednesday, February 4 at 10:00 am  
- 3L: Wednesday, February 4 at 2:00 pm  
- 4R3P: Thursday, February 5 at 10:00 am   

Harvesters are asked to confirm attendance by emailing  Kailey.Noonan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca . Please include your fleet/fishery and specify the date and time of the session you wish to attend. Upon confirmation, a link to the virtual meeting will be provided.  

Electronic logbooks will remain voluntary for all inshore snow crab harvesters in 2026, with mandatory use planned for 2027. DFO will hold information sessions for inshore Snow crab harvesters in the fall of 2026 and will share details at a later date.

"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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises fish harvesters that fishing licences for 2026 will not be available until February 2026. Those fish harvesters who want to fish during January must first have their 2025 fishing licences amended by a DFO Fishery Officer or a Licensing Officer to extend their licence to February 1, 2026.

Fish harvesters are advised that before the start of any fishing trip in 2026, they are to place a request in NOLS, with a copy of their 2025 Licence Document attached for a Licensing Officer to amend the licence end date. This will allow harvesters to continue fishing while they are awaiting their 2026 licence through the National Online Licensing 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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO continues to transition to Electronic Logbooks (ELOG) for fisheries catch reporting. This change is to modernize reporting of catch information, improve the accuracy and timeliness of reporting, while supporting compliance with fisheries regulations.

ELOG was rolled out in some Atlantic Canada fisheries last year and will be introduced to additional fisheries in 2026. The following outlines a list of fisheries by region and specifies whether ELOG participation in each fishery is mandatory or voluntary, 

ELOG Implementation by Region

Newfoundland & Labrador
•    Existing Mandatory (no change):
     •    Redfish Unit 1 (Inshore - All Areas)
     •    Lobster (All Areas)
     •    Snow Crab (Mid-shore and Fulltime Fleets)
•    New Mandatory for 2026
     •    Snow Crab (Large Supplementary, Small Supplementary, Supplementary, and NAFO Division 4R Commercial fleets)
•    Existing Voluntary (no change):
     •    Snow Crab (Inshore Fleets – All Areas)
     •    All other fisheries

Maritimes
•    Existing Mandatory (no change):
     •    Redfish Unit 1 (Inshore – All Areas)
     •    Snow Crab 4X (CFA 24W) 
     •    Rock Crab (27, 29, 31A, 31B, 32, 34, 35, 36)
     •    Red Crab (4WX and 5Z)
     •    Jonah Crab (32, 33, 34, 38)
     •    Lobster (28, 29, 30)
•    New Mandatory for 2026:
     •    Snow Crab N-ENS (CFA 20-22), S-ENS (CFA 23), S-ENS (CFA 24) 
     •    Lobster (27, 31A, 31B, 32)
     •    Lobster (33, 34) 
     •    Lobster (35, 36, 38) 
     •    Lobster (38B) 

Gulf
•    Existing Mandatory (no change):
     •    Redfish (Inshore – All Areas)
     •    Lobster (23, 24, 25, 26)
     •    Snow Crab (12(18, 25, 26), 12E, 12F, 19)
•    Existing Voluntary (no change):
     •    Herring (16A-G)
     •    Mackerel
     •    Shrimp (8,9,19)
     •    Bluefin Tuna (4RST and 4Wd)

Quebec
•    Existing Mandatory (no change):
     •    Redfish Unit 1 (Inshore – All Areas)
     •    Herring (All Areas)
     •    Bait Fishing (All Areas)
     •    Lobster (All Areas)
     •    Exploratory Lobster (19A1, 19A2, 19A3, 19B, 19C1, 19C2, 17A, 17B, 18A-18H)
     •    Snow Crab (All Areas)
     •    Mackerel (All Areas)
•    Existing Voluntary (no change):
     •    Redfish (midshore/offshore) (All Areas)
     •    Squid (All Areas)
     •    Sea Urchin (All Areas)
     •    Capelin (All Areas)
     •    Shrimp (All Areas)
     •    Rock Crab (All Areas)
     •    Spider Crab (All Areas)
     •    Bluefin Tuna (No Area Restriction)
     •    Groundfish (All Areas)
     •    Bar Clams (All Areas)
     •    Stimpson’s Surf Clam (All Areas)
     •    Whelk (All Areas)
     •    Scallop (All Areas)
     •    Sea Cucumber (All Areas)
     •    Atlantic Razor Clam (All Areas)

Opportunity for Voluntary Fisheries 
Harvesters in fisheries where ELOG is not yet mandatory can choose to use them voluntarily now where permitted by condition of license. 

Early adoption in voluntary fisheries is encouraged now to ensure a smoother transition when ELOG become mandatory.

What’s Expected of You
•    Mandatory fisheries: Sign up and use an approved ELOG app for all log reporting. 
•    Voluntary fisheries: Start using ELOG now where permitted by condition of licence to get ready for future mandatory implementation.
•    Resources:
     o    Visit the DFO ELOG webpage for instructions and an approved list of apps.
     o    Attend ELOG provider information sessions and DFO pre-season meetings.
     o    Reach out to your ELOG provider if you need help or have questions about using their app.

How you can get help

Answers to questions about the ELOG software application
Questions surrounding the purchase of or support for ELOG software should be directed to the individual application provider. Harvesters are encouraged to visit the company’s website to learn about upcoming training sessions and learning events.

Answers to questions about ELOGs implementation, timelines, process 
Have questions about timelines for ELOGs in your region? Or looking for support in making the switch from paper logbooks? Please contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada directly by:
•    Telephone: 1-877-535-7307
     o    Telephone support is available Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from 07:00 to 17:00 Eastern Time. Alberta and British Columbia:       support is available until 19:00 Eastern Time.
     o    TTY: 1-800-465-7735
•    Email: fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
     o    Please include your name and the DFO Region in which you are located. E-mails will receive a response within a few business days.

Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation in the continued rollout of ELOGs in eastern Canada.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Herring fishery in St. Mary's Bay, Herring Fishing Area 9 and Placentia Bay, Herring Fishing Area 10, for mobile gear vessels in Group A will open at 0600 hours on January 19, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-004 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-005 comes into effect on January 16, 2026.

"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 Mobile Gear (Purse Seine) Herring fishery will close on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 1400 hours in Conception Bay and the Southern Shore (Herring Fishing Areas 7 and 8).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-001 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-004 comes into effect at 1300 hours on January 12, 2026.

"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 directed Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will close for fixed gear vessels less than 65 feet using longlines at 2000 hours on January 11, 2026, as the quota is expected to be taken. There will be no Atlantic Halibut bycatch permitted after this time.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-292 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-003 comes into effect on January 10, 2026.

"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.