NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

DFO advises that the commercial Scallop fishery in Area 9 (Inner St. Mary's Bay) in NAFO Division 3L will open at 0600 hours Monday, January 5, 2026 for harvesters in the following Vessel Class: C4701.

Harvesters are reminded that information returns (logbooks) are a requirement for this fishery.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-276 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-002 comes into effect on January 3, 2026.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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Herring fishery in St. Mary's Bay, Herring Fishing Area 09 and Placentia Bay, Herring Fishing Area 10, for mobile gear vessels in Group B will open at 0600 hours on January 5, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-290 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-001 comes into effect on January 01, 2026.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 reminds harvesters that herring fisheries in Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 for mobile gear purse seine are closed.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-271 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-290 comes into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2025.

"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 reminds harvesters that fixed gear (barr and tuck seine) herring fisheries in Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14 as well as gillnet and trap in HFA 13 are closed.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-270 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-289 comes into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2025.

"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 reminds harvesters that the following Groundfish fisheries are closed for the Newfoundland and Labrador-based fleets for all vessel classes:

•    NAFO Divisions 3NO, 4RST, and Sub-Division 3Pn inshore fixed gear Atlantic halibut fleets, including 3NO inshore fixed gear Maritime vessels.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-288 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-292 will come into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2025.

"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 3Pn portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (less than 65 feet fleet) for the inshore mobile gear vessel classes C363, C364, C369, C370, C373, C376, C381, C385, C387, C393, C396, C399, C400, C401, C405, C406, C407, C410, C412, C415, C417, C419, C421, C422, C423, C424, C432, C433, C436, C437, C440, C442, C443, C444, C445, C448, C449, C452, C453, C455, C456, C457, C458, C459, C460, C461, the Estuary and Gulf shrimp fleet for vessel classes C361, C362, C365, C366, C367, C368, C371, C372, C374, C375, C377, C378, C379, C380, C382, C383, C384, C386, C388, C389, C390, C391, C392, C394, C395, C396, C398, C403, C404, C409, C411, C413, C414, C418, and the NL based harvesters with Reserve Allocation for vessel classes C420, C434, C439, C447, C450, C451, C464, C469, C470, C471 will open at 0600 hours on January 1, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-287 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-291 comes into force on December 31, 2025.

"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 fish harvesters that fishing licences for 2026 will not be available until after the first few weeks of January 2026. Those fish harvesters who want to fish during the first weeks of January 2026 must first have their 2025 fishing licences amended by a DFO Fishery Officer or a Licensing Officer to extend their licence to January 25, 2026.

Fish harvesters are advised that before the start of any fishing trip in 2026, they are to place a request in NOLS (https://fishing-peche.dfo-mpo.gc.ca), 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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO reminds harvesters that the 2J3KL Northern Cod fishery remains open. Fish harvesters are advised that before the start of any fishing trip in 2026, they are to obtain updated 2J3KL cod conditions from 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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that Squid, Whelk, and Sea Cucumber will be closed for all fishing areas as of Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 2359 hours.

DFO also reminds harvesters that the Snow Crab, Lobster, and Scallop fisheries are closed for all fishing areas with the exception of the Scallop fishery in the portion of Scallop Fishing Area 10 (Placentia Bay), inside a line drawn from Point Verde (47°14.33'N, 54°00.94'W) on the east side of the bay, to Red Harbour Head (47°16.59'N, 54°58.58'W) on the west side, which will remain open until March 31, 2026. This is in line with the management measures for this fishery.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-073, 2025-102, 2025-184, 2025-190, and 2025-240 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-273, 2025-274, 2025-275, 2025-276, and 2025-277 come into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2025.

"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 reminds harvesters that the following Groundfish fisheries are closed for the Newfoundland and Labrador-based fleets for all vessel classes: 

•    NAFO Area 2 + Divisions 3KLMNO and 4RST Greenland halibut (turbot) inshore fixed gear fleets.
•    NAFO Divisions 3NO, 4RST, and Sub-Division 3Pn inshore fixed gear Atlantic halibut fleets, including 3NO inshore fixed gear Maritime vessels.
•    NAFO Divisions 3NO White hake, Skate, Redfish and Monkfish inshore fleets.
•    NAFO Division 4R Witch Flounder.
•    Lumpfish fishery in all NAFO Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador Region.
•    NAFO Divisions 3KL Winter flounder (Blackback) fishery.
•    3Pn Portion of the Unit 2 Redfish fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

DFO reminds harvesters:

•    The 3Ps portion of the Unit 2 Redfish Fishery for the mobile and fixed gear fleets will remain open until March 31, 2026, unless the allocation is taken before the close date.
•    The 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (less than 65 feet fleet) for the inshore mobile gear and the Estuary and Gulf shrimp fleet for vessel classes will remain open until March 31, 2026.
•    The 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (less than 65 feet fleet) for NL based harvesters with Reserve Allocation for vessel classes (C420, C434, C439, C447, C450, C451, C464, C469, C470, C471) will remain open until March 31, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-125, 2025-126, 2025-249, 2025-256, 2025-262, and 2025-283 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-278, 2025-281, 2025-282, 2025-284, 2025-285, and 2025-287 will come into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2025.

"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