Public Notices

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 

With wildfires significantly limiting many people’s ability to take part in the Recreational Groundfish Fishery and expected challenging sea conditions in the coming days, DFO advises that the 2025 recreational groundfish fishery season will be extended to include two additional weekends in September: 

Saturday, September 06, 2025 to Monday, September 08, 2025 
Saturday, September 13, 2025 to Monday, September 15, 2025 

All other rules and regulations for the fishery remain the same. 

Details on the management measures for the 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador recreational groundfish fishery can be found online at the following website: : Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2025

The public is encouraged to follow safe boating practices and be aware of the local weather and sea conditions before leaving port. The Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide offers valuable tips on how to safely load your boat - - https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2024-03/tp_511e.pdf

The Department will launch a public consultation process this fall on the recreational groundfish fishery. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-087 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-210 comes into effect on August 22, 2025.

"Public Notices" are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL 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 

DFO advises that in 2025, the recreational groundfish fishery will be open for a total of 39 days, and there is no requirement for a licence or tags for the general public. To inform future management decisions the Department will launch consultations this fall on the recreational groundfish fishery and the varying health of the province’s three cod stocks.

Species and Area:

The recreational groundfish fishery will occur in all NAFO areas/subareas around Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes 2GH, 2J3KL, 3Ps, 3Pn and 4R. Three exceptions are the Eastport, Gilbert Bay and Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.

Season Dates:
Summer Season:
Saturday, June 28, 2025 to Monday, June 30, 2025
Saturday, July 05, 2025 to Monday, July 07, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 2025 to Monday, July 14, 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025 to Monday, July 21, 2025
Saturday, July 26, 2025 to Monday, July 28, 2025
Saturday, August 02, 2025 to Monday, August 04, 2025
Saturday, August 09, 2025 to Monday, August 11, 2025
Saturday, August 16, 2025 to Monday, August 18, 2025
Saturday, August 23, 2025 to Monday, August 25, 2025
Saturday, August 30, 2025 to Monday, September 01, 2025

Fall Season: Saturday, September 20, 2025 to Sunday, September 28, 2025

Recreational fishers are limited to five (5) groundfish per day (including cod). However, the maximum boat limit when three or more people are fishing is 15 groundfish.

For 2025, a new voluntary pilot program is available for Transport Canada certified tour boat operators introducing a tagging system that will allow retention of two fish per passenger per day, seven days a week. This licence includes mandatory harvest reporting requirements. To apply for this licence, please contact DFO.ExperimentalLicensing-Experimental.MPO@dfo-mpo.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 details on all applicable Management Measures will be available online.

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.

Further details on the management measure for the 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador recreational groundfish fishery can be found online at the following website: 

Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2025

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2024-314 and 2024-315 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-086 and 2025-087 come into effect on June 19, 2025.

"Public Notices" are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL 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 closure to 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, northern moon snails, waved whelks, Stimpson's whelks, except sea scallops) for recreational or commercial purposes effective 1800 hours Tuesday, June 10, 2025 for that portion of Tommy's Arm bounded by the shoreline and a series of straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:

49.47304 N 55.75942 W, to a point at  
49.46774 N 55.76196 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 
49.46464 N 55.78563 W, to a point at 
49.47014 N 55.78963 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 
49.47103 N 55.77843 W, to a point at 
49.47234 N 55.77005, then along the shoreline back to the point of commencement.

More detailed information on other 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-2025-002 comes into effect 1800 hours Tuesday, June 10, 2025. 

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website:   Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) - inspection.canada.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the reopening 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 Tuesday, May 6, 2025 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-2024-002 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on May 6, 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 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 1600 hours on March 25, 2025:

Those coastal waters from Francois (at Lat 47.56906 Long -56.71278), to Lat 47.17213 Long -56.00214 to Stones Cove at (Lat 47.57731 Long - 55.11963).

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-2025-001 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on March 25, 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 March 3, 2025:

Those coastal waters from Francois (at Lat 47.56906 Long -56.71278), to Lat 47.17213 Long -56.00214 to Stones Cove at (Lat 47.57731 Long - 55.11963). 

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: Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2025-001 comes into effect at 1800 hours on March 3, 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)

DFO will be delivering online Humane Harvesting Workshops for persons interested in obtaining a Personal Use Seal licence.

Workshops will be delivered virtually/online using Zoom. Sessions will be approximately 1 hour.

The workshop is available at no cost, and participants will need the following information:

    Valid photo ID

    Valid FAC or Hunter's Capability card

Registered participants will be sent an email confirming the date and time, and a Zoom link to join the online session.

To pre-register, submit an email request to: DFO.SealHumaneHarvestingNL-PhoqueslachassesanscruateTNL.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

"Notices to Public" 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 Public” sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

The Labrador meeting schedule is as follows:

RESCHEDULED FOR Tuesday, February 4, 2025 – Fifty Plus Club, Cartwright: 1:00 pm

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – Alexis Hotel, Port Hope Simpson: 1:00 pm

Please note that there will be virtual meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.

"Notices to Public" 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 Public” sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

The Labrador meeting schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 – Fifty Plus Club, Cartwright: 1:00 pm

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – Alexis Hotel, Port Hope Simpson: 1:00 pm

Please note that there will be virtual meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.

"Notices to Public" 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 Public” sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca