Groundfish

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans advises harvesters of the following management measures for the 2+3K <65 FG Greenland Halibut Fisheries starting July 17, 2025:
•    The fishery will now be administered through trip limits.
•    Trip limits for 2+3K will increase to 50,000 lbs. round weight.
•    The number of nets permitted to be used will increase by 40 per depth zone.
•    New conditions will be available through the National Online Licensing System after July 16, 2025.
•    Any participants that were not issued an initial permit can now request license conditions to participate in the 2+3K fishery.

To request these license conditions, contact David Small at david.small@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The issuance and acceptance of these licence conditions is not a guarantee that sufficient quota will be available to harvest the amount on the licence condition.

The Department will continue to closely monitor this fishery. Closures may occur on short notice which will be communicated through Notice to Fishers.

"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 wishes to advise harvesters that the Lumpfish fishery will close at 2000 hours on July 12, 2025 in the following Lumpfish fishing areas:

• Waters adjacent to Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove opened only to vessel class A438

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-082 and 2025-118 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-125 and 2025-126 come into effect on July 12, 2025.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 that the Witch flounder (Greysole) fishery for vessels less than 65 feet, using Danish seine (vessel classes C50 and C351), will open in NAFO sub-Division 4Rd - from a line drawn due west of Cape Ray, north to a line drawn due west of Cape St. George at 0600 hours on July 12, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2024-321 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-127 comes into effect on July 12, 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 that the Winter flounder (Blackback) fishery in NAFO Divisions 3KL will open at 0600 hours on July 13, 2025.
Licence conditions will be available soon on 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 the 2J3KL Northern cod fishery will open for 2J-based and 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear harvesters on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 0600 hours for vessel classes A283, A292 and A295. 

Licence conditions will be available soon on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

For fish harvesters that have acquired additional cod shares through enterprise combining, adjusted catch limits will be identified in their licence conditions. Harvesters are reminded that fishing gear cannot be set prior to the season opening.

Should in-season adjustments to catch limits or seasons be required, industry will be consulted and updates will be communicated to harvesters via a Notice to Fishers. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-083 and 2025-099 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-118 and 2025-119 come into effect on July 11, 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 that the Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec-based vessel classes A2343 to A2456 will open at 1400 hours EDT on July 8, 2025 and close at 2359 hours EDT on September 29, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-095 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-116 comes into effect at 1400 hours NDT on July 8, 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 wishes to remind inshore fixed-gear Northern cod harvesters that Buddy-Up will be authorized for the 2025 season. The 2025 Buddy-up Application is available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The inshore fixed-gear Northern cod Buddy-Up application can be downloaded and submitted by following Step-By-Step Instructions through NOLS

Submitting a Request and Checking the Request Status: Step-by-Step.

Any harvesters experiencing issues with accessing their online NOLS account, should contact the NOLS Support Line 1-877-535-7307 to have the issue resolved. For more information on the Buddy-Up policy for Northern cod, please contact your local Area Office detachment.

"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 the 2J3KL Northern cod fishery will open for 2J-based and 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear harvesters to fish in NAFO Divisions 2J3KL on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 06:00 hours. 

The base bi-weekly authorized catch limits (in round weight) for 2J-based inshore fixed-gear harvesters are: 

•    July 13 - August 23: 40,000 lbs. base bi-weekly 
•    August 24 – end of season: 50,000 lbs. base bi-weekly 

The base weekly authorized catch limits (in round weight) for 3KL-based regular season fixed-gear harvesters are: 

•    July 13 - September 13: 4,000 lbs. base weekly 
•    September 14 – end of season: 8,500 lbs. base bi-weekly 

3KL-based harvesters will have the option of fishing the regular season at the weekly base catch limits identified above, or they may opt to fish only during the 3KL fall season starting September 14 with a catch limit of 17,000 lbs. base bi-weekly (round weight). 

Fish harvesters selecting the 3KL fall only fishery option MUST indicate their intention via e-mail to Robyn.Morris@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  by Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Harvesters must provide their FULL NAME, FIN, HOMEPORT in their email.  

If a harvester who has opted to fish in the fall season has directed cod landings prior to September 14, they will forfeit their fall fishery licence conditions.  

Should in-season adjustments to catch limits or seasons be required, industry will be consulted, and updates will be communicated to harvesters via a Notice to Fishers. The Conservation and Harvesting Plan (CHP) will be available online soon at: Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 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 that the Atlantic Halibut hook and line (long line) fishery in NAFO Divisions 4RST, for fixed gear vessels less than 65 feet based in Western NL and Southern Labrador that elected to fish in Period 2, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, July 7, 2025. This fishery is open to Vessel class A288 and will close at 2000 hours on July 20, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-079 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-095 comes into effect on July 3, 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 that the 3Ps portion of the Unit 2 Redfish Fishery for the mobile and fixed gear fleets will open at 0600 hours on July 1, 2025.

The 3Pn portion of the Unit 2 Redfish Fishery for the mobile gear fleets will open at 0600 hours on July 1, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-088 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-100 comes into effect on July 1, 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