Fishery General

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

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 meeting schedule is as follows:

Week 3:

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Centre: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

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

"Notices to 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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to remind harvesters 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 meeting schedule is as follows:

Week 2:
Monday, February 6, 2023 – Bonavista, Fire Hall: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 – Petty Harbour, Community Center: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – Old Perlican, Community Center: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – Riverhead, Royal Canadian Legion: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Thursday, February 9, 2023 – Ferryland, Southern Shore Folk Arts Council: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Week 3:
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Centre: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

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

"Notices to 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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

In April 2021, amendments to the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (AFR) and the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations (MPFR) came into force creating new provisions that preserve and promote the independence of commercial inshore fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Specifically, the regulatory changes:
- prohibit licence holders from transferring the use or control of rights and privileges conferred under the licence to any third party;
- restrict the issuance of inshore licences to licence holders who have not transferred the rights or privileges conferred under the licence; and
- prohibit anyone other than the licence holder from using and controlling the rights and privileges associated with a licence.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has developed guidance for industry, specifically inshore licence holders, on certain aspects of the implementation of these regulatory changes.

Two new guidance documents are now available on DFO’s website:
1) Agreements and stipulations: Inshore regulations implementation: Agreements and stipulations
2) Financial agreements: Inshore regulations implementation: Financial agreements

Already available guidance on the licensing review process and on corporate structures have also been updated.
If you would like more information regarding the inshore regulations, please visit: Inshore regulations
 

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 meeting schedule is as follows:
Thursday, February 9, 2023 – Marystown, Marystown Hotel: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Monday, February 13, 2023 – Hawkes Bay, Torrent River Inn: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Thursday, February 16, 2023 – Corner Brook, Greenwood Inn & Suites: 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Please note that there will be Virtual Meetings scheduled at a later date for those unable to attend in-person meetings.
"Notices to 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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to remind harvesters 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 meeting schedule is as follows:

Week 1: 

Monday, January 30, 2023 - New Wes Valley, Lions Club: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 - Fogo, Anglican Church Hall (Centre Island): 10:30am - 12:30 pm

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - Twillingate, Lions Club: 10:00 am - 

12:00 pm

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - Baie Verte, College of the North Atlantic: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Week 2:

Monday, February 6, 2023 - Bonavista, Fire Hall: 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - Petty Harbour, Community Center: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 - Old Perlican, Community Center: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 - Riverhead, Royal Canadian Legion: 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Thursday, February 9, 2023 - Ferryland, Southern Shore Folk Arts Council: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Week 3:

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 - St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Centre: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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

"Notices to 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: Danielle.Nichols@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 31, 2023 – St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Cartwright: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 – Town Hall, Mary’s Harbour 10 am – 12 pm

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

"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: Danielle.Nichols@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 meeting schedule is as follows:

Week 1:
Monday, January 30, 2023 – New Wes Valley, Lions Club: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 – Fogo, Anglican Church Hall (Centre Island): 10:30am – 12:30 pm
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 – Twillingate, Lions Club: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 – Baie Verte, College of the North Atlantic: 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Week 2:
Monday, February 6, 2023 – Bonavista, Fire Hall: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 – Petty Harbour, Community Center: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – Old Perlican, Community Center: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – Riverhead, Royal Canadian Legion: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Thursday, February 9, 2023 – Ferryland, Southern Shore Folk Arts Council: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Week 3:
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – St. Anthony, Lions Club: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – Roddickton-Bide Arm, Cross Country Centre: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

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

"Notices to 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: danielle.nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
 

DFO advises fish harvesters that fishing licences for 2023 may not be available until after the first few weeks of January 2023. Those fish harvesters who wish to fish during the first weeks of January 2023 must first have their 2022 fishing licences amended by a DFO Fishery Officer or a Licensing Officer to extend their licence into 2023. 

Fish harvesters are advised that before the start of any fishing trip in 2023, they are to place a request in NOLS (National Online Licensing System), with a copy of their 2022 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 2023 licence through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

All commercial fish harvesters are reminded to review their 2022 licenses in the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) at National Online Licensing System as soon as possible to confirm that they have renewed all their 2022 commercial licenses and/or 2022 vessel registration(s).

In order to retain the privilege to be issued the licenses in the following year, commercial harvesters must renew both their commercial fishing licenses and vessel registrations on an annual basis, whether or not the harvester actively fished or used the vessel for harvesting in that year.

Also, all 2022 Individual Quota (IQ) fees must be paid, with the exception of commercial cod IQ fees. Commercial cod IQ fees are not required to be paid if the licence holder had no directed or incidental landings of cod; however, the groundfish license fee must still be paid each year.

Harvesters who have not yet renewed their licenses for 2022 are reminded that they must complete their license renewals before midnight, Friday, December 30, 2022. It is very important to be aware that any licenses and registrations that are not renewed before this date will not be available in the following year - these licences will be cancelled.

As well, DFO advises fish harvesters based in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region that the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) will not be available for renewal of 2022 fishing licenses after midnight Friday, December 30. This is to allow for year-end data updating processes and system maintenance.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) launched the National Online Licensing System in the spring of 2013 for fish harvesters to complete routine licensing transactions using a computer with internet access. This includes: renewing licenses and vessel registrations; paying the associated fees; and printing licenses, license conditions, payment receipts, and other licensing documents.

For more information about the NOLS system, visit Online Licensing or call 1-877-535-7307 if you need assistance.

Newfoundland and Labrador Region  - December 1, 2022

Fisheries and Oceans Canada announces that the timeline for harvesters to implement lower breaking strength gear modification requirements in non-tended fixed gear, trap and pot commercial fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec is extended to 2024.

Canada is committed to protecting North Atlantic right whales and supporting their recovery. We continue to prioritize measures to prevent entanglements of North Atlantic right whales in fishing gear, closing areas to fishing when and where right whales are detected, and removing lost, abandoned and discarded fishing gear. The Department is reviewing available information to ensure that lower breaking strength fishing gear is safe, effective at protecting whales, and readily available. This is important for supporting harvesters as they transition successfully to equipment that better protects endangered whales.

The Department will continue its support for various whalesafe gear trials in relevant fisheries with a particular focus on ropeless and rope-on-demand gear, and its engagement with industry, other stakeholders and Indigenous partners. During 2023, the Department will announce further details regarding measures to protect North Atlantic right whales in Canadian fisheries, including the approach to implement appropriate whalesafe gear requirements over time. 

For more information:

Whalesafe Fishing Gear: Whalesafe fishing gear 

North Atlantic right whale protection measures: North Atlantic right whale