Groundfish

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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-088 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-100 comes into effect on July 1, 2025.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

DFO advises that the Northern Cod fishery will open for all midshore and offshore licence holders and vessel classes in NAFO Divisions 2J3KL on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 0600 hours; and is scheduled to close April 15, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2024-323 have been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-099 comes into effect on July 01, 2025.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 Greenland Halibut (Turbot) fishery for vessels less than and greater than 65' using gillnets and hook and line gear, will open at 0600 hours on Wednesday, June 25, 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 sub-Division 3Pn, for vessels less than 65 feet using hook and line gear, will close at 2000 hours on June 17, 2025. The reason for the closure is that the available harvesting cap for this fishery has been reached. Fish harvesters are reminded that all fishing gear must be removed from the water by closing time.

"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 Greenland Halibut (turbot) fishery in NAFO Divisions 4RST will open in water depths 140 fathoms or greater, for fixed gear vessels (Vessel Class A284) less than 65 feet based in NAFO Divisions 2J4R3Pn, will open at 0600 hours on June 25, 2025.
By-catch limits are outlined in conditions.

4R3Pn based fixed gear groundfish harvesters who are not eligible under the Atlantic Halibut Sustainability Plan who wish to participate in the 4R Greenland Halibut (Turbot) fishery should submit a request through the National Online Licencing System.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-084 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-089 comes into effect on June 21, 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 the Unit 1 Redfish fishery in NAFO division 4R will open to the following fleets on June 24, 2025, Offshore fleet all regions, Midshore fleet all regions, Indigenous allocation holders all regions, and the Inshore and Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence shrimp harvester fleets in Quebec, Gulf, and Maritimes regions.  

This opening applies to vessels in the following classes C1 to C359, C425, C462 to C3999, D1 to D220, E to J and L to Z.  The fishery will open at 0100 hours on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and will close at 2400 hours on March 31, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-011 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-088 will come into force on June 21, 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 1, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, June 9, 2025. This fishery is open to vessel class A285 and will close at 2000 hours on June 22, 2025.

DFO reminds fish harvesters that logbooks for this fishery are mandatory and must be completed in full and submitted as per the conditions of licence.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-065 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-079 will come into force on June 6, 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 vessels classes A1800 to A1988 based in the Quebec Region, will open at 0500 hours EDT June 6, 2025, and close at 2359 hours EDT October 31, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-065 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-079 comes into effect on June 06, 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 advise 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 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.