Public Notices

DFO advises that the recreational groundfish fishery will be open in all NAFO areas/subareas of Newfoundland and Labrador and follow an area-based management approach. There is no requirement for a licence or tags for the general public.

Recognizing differences in the health of the three Atlantic cod stocks in adjacent waters and informed by survey results, in 2GHJ3KL (north and east coasts) the fishery will be open seven days a week from Memorial Day/Canada Day to Labour Day with a nine day period in the fall. In 3Ps and 3Pn4R (south and west coasts) the fishery will be open weekends (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) throughout the summer with a nine day period in the fall. Season dates by area are specified below.

Three exceptions are the Eastport, Gilbert Bay and Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.

Season Dates by Area:

2GHJ3KL (north and east coasts):

•    Summer Season - Wednesday, July 01 to Monday, September 07, 2026
•    Fall Season - Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 27, 2026 

3Ps and 4R3Pn (south and west coasts):

Summer Season:

•    Saturday, July 04 to Monday, July 06, 2026
•    Saturday, July 11 to Monday, July 13, 2026
•    Saturday, July 18 to Monday, July 20, 2026
•    Saturday, July 25 to Monday, July 27, 2026
•    Saturday, August 01 2026 to Monday, August 03, 2026
•    Saturday, August 08, 2026 to Monday, August 10, 2026
•    Saturday, August 15, 2026 to Monday, August 17, 2026
•    Saturday, August 22, 2026 to Monday, August 24, 2026
•    Saturday, August 29, 2026 to Monday, August 31, 2026
•    Saturday, September 05, 2026 to Monday, September 07, 2026

Fall Season:

•    Saturday, September 19, 2026 to Sunday, September 27, 2026

Recreational fishers are limited to five (5) groundfish per day (including cod). There is no boat limit.  

The Department reminds recreational fishery participants to practice safe boating and check the weather before heading out on the water. For more information on boating safety please refer to the Safe Boating Guide. For specific information regarding Transport Canada rules and regulations or to request a pleasure craft courtesy check please contact the Office of Boating Safety at 1-800-230-3693 or obs-atl-bsn@tc.gc.ca.

Provisions will continue that allow a person with a disability to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish. The disability designation form and further details on the management measures for the Newfoundland and Labrador recreational groundfish fishery can be found online at the following website: Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2026.

The tour boat voluntary pilot program will continue for Transport Canada certified tour boat operators. This includes a tagging system and retention of two fish per passenger per day, seven days a week with mandatory harvest reporting requirements. To apply for this licence, please contact DFO.ExperimentalLicensing-Experimental.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO Science conducts ongoing tagging programs for various groundfish species to support research on fish movement, growth, and natural mortality. If you capture a tagged groundfish, please return the tag to claim your monetary reward by mailing it to DFO’s Science Branch.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-279 and 2025-280 have been revoked, and Variation Orders 2026-063 and 2026-064 come into effect on May 16, 2026.

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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closures of portions of Notre Dame Bay for the harvesting of all molluscan bivalve shellfish for recreational and commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1800 hours, May 13, 2026:

Osmonton Arm:
Those waters of Little Northwest Arm, that are inside, or southwest, of a line drawn from coordinate 49.4578278, -55.3634257 southeast to coordinate 49.4525412, -55.3606694. 

Big Island:
Those waters of Big Island, West Arm that are bounded by, or inside, a series of straight lines drawn from latitude/longitude 49.3686916, -55.4394693 northeast to reference 49.3695417, -55.4354722; latitude/longitude 49.3594522, -55.4404327 southwest to reference 49.3571905, -55.4468041 thence northwest to reference 49.3586479, -55.4490750, thence northwest to reference 49.3618380, -554499504; latitude/longitude 49.3618380, -55.4499504 northeast to reference 49.3642700, -55.4484013, thence northeast to 49.3650692, -55.4479314. 

Strong Island:
Those waters of Strong Island Sound that are inside, or southeast of a straight line drawn from latitude/longitude 49.3872110, -55.3436630 northeast to reference 49.3865676, -55.3482039.

The closures noted above apply to the following molluscan bivalve shellfish:
All bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, northern moon snails, waved whelks, Stimpson's whelks, except sea scallops.

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website:  Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Orders NSN-2026-001, NSN-2026-002, NSN-2026-003 come into effect at 1800 hours May 13, 2026.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, sea scallops, northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks) for recreational or commercial purposes, effective 1600 hours on Friday, May 8, 2026 for a portion of Tommy's Arm, Notre Dame Bay as defined by those waters located inside of the following points:

49.472659° N, 55.760129° W,
49.467834° N, 55.772489° W,
49.468113° N, 55.762232° W,
49.471515° N, 55.765108° W,
49.470037° N, 55.789312° W,
49.46471° N, 55.785578° W.

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website: Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2025-002 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on May 8, 2026.  

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website:  Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

DFO advises that during the 2026 seal harvest, there will be an opportunity to participate in a Personal Use Seal Fishery Educational Observer Pilot. The intent of this pilot project is to allow knowledge transfer within the personal use seal harvest. Anyone ages 12 and older can apply for an educational observer licence, including current commercial sealers who wish to observe a personal use harvest.

Information has been added to the personal use seal humane harvesting training course, offered through DFO, describing the roles and responsibilities of the educational observer and the accompanying personal use seal licence holder.

Anyone interested in applying for an educational observer licence is required to complete a humane harvesting course for personal use seal offered through DFO. 

Personal use seal licence holders who have already completed the humane harvesting course, and plan to take an educational observer, can contact DFO to receive supplemental information about the pilot prior to harvest trips. 

For more information, please contact DFO at the following email address:  DFO.SealHumaneHarvestingNL-PhoqueslachassesanscruateTNL.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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

DFO reminds the Public that the Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish fishery is closed for the 2025 season. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-086 and 2025-210 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-279 and 2025-280 come into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2025.

Public Notices are now available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all public notices sent to you directly by email, please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks for recreational or commercial purposes, if open and authorized to fish, in the following areas effective 1800 hours on December 3, 2025:

Those coastal waters starting near Grey River Point (47.572120126 N, 57.117692700 W), southeast to include the Burin Peninsula, to a point near Eastern Head (47.363741232 N, 54.524493634 W). 

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website:  CheckBeforeYouHarvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2025-003 has been repealed effective 1800 hours on December 3, 2025.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website:  Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closure for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge clams, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1800 hours on November 12, 2025:

Those coastal waters starting near Grey River Point (47.572120126 N, 57.117692700 W), southeast to include the Burin Peninsula, to a point near Eastern Head (47.363741232 N, 54.524493634 W). 

As a result, there is reason to believe that the sanitary conditions of the adjacent marine waters may have degraded to the point where accepted water quality standards have been exceeded and the contamination of the water would likely pose a risk to public health if shellfish in the affected area were harvested for consumption.

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website: Shellfish harvesting map

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2025-003 comes into effect at 1800 hours on November 12, 2025.

In accordance with Appendix VIII of the CSSP Manual of Operations, these areas must remain closed for a minimum of seven days. There will be a Public Notice when the closure is lifted.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise that the in-person Outreach meeting in Renews, for November 4, 2025, is postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Public Notices are now available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all public notices sent to you directly by email, please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) wishes to advise that in-person Outreach Meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

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.

NAFO Division 3L

Monday, November 3, 2025 – Dildo, SUF Hall: 2:00–4:00 PM

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Branch, Branch Community Center: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Renews, Town Hall: 6:00–8:00 PM

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 – Bay De Verde, Town Hall: 1:00–3:00 PM

Thursday, November 6, 2025 – Salvage, 50+ Club: 1:00–3:00 PM

NAFO Division 3PS

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – Placentia, Placentia Cultural Arts Centre: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – Grand Bank, Burin Peninsula Hotel – Dining Room: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Thursday, November 20, 2025 – Hermitage, Community Centre – Fire Dept Room: 1:00–3:00 PM

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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) wishes to advise that in-person Outreach Meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

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.

NAFO Division 3K

Monday, October 27, 2025 – Carmenville, Recreation Center: 2:00–4:00 PM

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Robert's Arm, Town Hall: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Thursday, October 30, 2025 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Thursday, October 30, 2025 – Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Arena: 3:00–5:00 PM

NAFO Division 3L

Monday, November 3, 2025 – Dildo, SUF Hall: 2:00–4:00 PM

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Branch, Branch Community Center: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Renews, Town Hall: 6:00–8:00 PM

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 – Bay De Verde, Town Hall: 1:00–3:00 PM

Thursday, November 6, 2025 – Salvage, 50+ Club: 1:00–3:00 PM

NAFO Divisions 4R3Pn

Monday, October 27, 2025 – Stephenville, Day’s Inn: 1:00–3:00 PM

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Rocky Harbour, Fisherman’s Landing: 1:00–3:00 PM

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – Plum Point, Plum Point Motel: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

NAFO Division 3PS

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – Placentia, Placentia Cultural Arts Centre: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – Grand Bank, Burin Peninsula Hotel – Dining Room: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Thursday, November 20, 2025 – Hermitage, Community Centre – Fire Dept Room: 1:00–3:00 PM

NAFO Division 2J

Monday, October 27, 2025 – Cartwright, 50 Plus Club: 1:00–4:00 PM

Monday, October 27, 2025 – Port Hope Simpson, Alexis Hotel Dining Room: 6:00–8:00 PM

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – Mary’s Harbour, Recreation Commission: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – St. Lewis, Town Hall: 2:00–4:00 PM

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – Charlottetown, Town Hall: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM

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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca