Fishery General

As of April 8, 2026, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been accepting Catch Certificate Signatory Requests through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). The amended European Union (EU) Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) regulations, which came into force on January 10, 2026, require that certain fish and seafood products imported into the EU be accompanied by a catch certificate signed by the licence holder or vessel master—or by their duly authorized representative.

The EU requirement for a licence holder or vessel master to verify and sign the catch information on each catch certificate is intended to ensure that the information has been confirmed at its source by the harvester. In Canada, however, harvesters do not typically use the Fisheries Certificate System (FCS), which is designed as a traceability tool to support export certification. Because Canadian catch certificates for the EU are issued at the point of export, it is generally not feasible for all licence holders to sign each certificate prior to shipment—particularly during busy fishing seasons.
 
To address this, licence holders must formally authorize the applicant manager of the company that buys their catches, to sign catch certificates on their behalf. Applicant managers must be duly authorized by the licence holder to enter catch reports into catch certificate applications based on information they receive from the licence holder, and then to sign-off on these catch reports confirming that the information is a true representation of the licence holder’s catches. Foreign officials will only accept catch certificates if the signature appearing next to a licence holder’s catch report is the signature of the individual authorized to sign on their behalf.  

When a fisher authorizes an applicant manager from a buyer company, the authorization applies only to the act of signing the catch certificate. It does not grant any additional authority, permissions, or decision making rights to the applicant manager.

Fish harvesters are invited to participate in upcoming in-person engagement sessions on the development of the Canadian Ghost Gear Action Plan. These sessions will provide an opportunity to contribute meaningful input into the Action Plan’s development. Participation from fish harvesters is essential to ensure that any measures considered for implementation are both practical and effective.

March 17, 2026 9:00–11:00 a.m.  Motel Deer Lake, Deer Lake 
March 17, 2026 3:00–5:00 p.m.  Mount Peyton Hotel, Grand Falls-Windsor    
March 18, 2026 1:00–3:00 p.m.  Clarenville Inn, Clarenville 
March 19, 2026 1:00–3:00 p.m.  Hampton Inn & Suites, St. John's        
            
For more information or to register for these sessions, please contact DFO.GGNLRegion-EFRegiondeTNL.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Please indicate which session you would like to attend.

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 in 2026, fishers will receive notification of all species quota reconciliation amounts both by mail and by email.

Beginning in 2027, all quota reconciliation notifications will be sent by email only.

Harvesters are reminded to ensure their contact information, including email address, is up to date in 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.

As announced in Notice to Fishers nf.26.006, electronic Logbooks (ELOGs) will continue to be mandatory for Newfoundland and Labrador commercial lobster harvesters, the fulltime and mid-shore snow crab fleets, and Unit 1 redfish harvesters.   

DFO will hold virtual ELOG education sessions for harvesters in the above noted fisheries/fleets to review ELOG requirements and best practices, address common errors encountered during the 2025 season, and provide an opportunity for questions.  

Sessions will be held by NAFO area on the following dates:   

2J3K: Wednesday, February 11 at 10:00 am NST   
3L: Wednesday, February 11 at 2:00 pm NST
4R3P: Thursday, February 12 at 10:00 am NST 

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

"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 Fisher nf.26.006, electronic logbooks (ELOGs) will continue to be mandatory for Newfoundland and Labrador commercial lobster harvesters, the fulltime and mid-shore snow crab fleets, and Unit 1 Redfish harvesters.

DFO will hold virtual ELOG education sessions for harvesters in the above noted fisheries/fleets to review ELOG requirements and best practices, address common errors encountered during the 2025 season, and provide an opportunity for questions.

Sessions will be held by NAFO area on the following dates:

2J3K: Wednesday, February 11 at 10:00 am
3L: Wednesday, February 11 at 2:00 pm
4R3P: Thursday, February 12 at 10:00 am

Harvesters are requested to confirm their attendance by emailing kailey.noonan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Please include your fishery/fleet and specify the data and time of the session you wish to attend. Upon confirmation, a link to the virtual session will be provided.

"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 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.

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.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) wishes to remind 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 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