Groundfish

DFO advises the 4R and 3Pn portions of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (vessels less than 65 feet) will reopen to NL based harvester with Reserve Allocation for vessel class C435. The fishery will open at 0600 hours on April 18, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2026-030 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-035 comes into force on April 18, 2026.

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 harvesters who want to participate in the 2026 <65' fixed gear fishery for Greenland Halibut (turbot) in 2+3K or 3LMNO, that they must submit their Expression of Interest to Fisheries and Oceans by 1700 hours, May 3, 2026.

For 2026, NAFO division 2+3K will be managed using permits. The permit amount will be dependent on the number of Expressions of Interests received. The tentative opening for this fishery will be June 15, 2026, and the permit will remain valid for 5 weeks.

A subsequent draw may be conducted for area 2+3K in order to harvest any quota that was not taken during the initial permit period. All expressions of interests will be automatically included in the draw unless otherwise indicated in the expression of interest. Please write "decline draw" in your e-mail if you do not wish to have your name included.

For 2026, NAFO division 3LMNO will be managed by trip limits. The trip limits for 3LMNO will be 65,000 lbs (round weight). The tentative opening for this fishery will be May 20, 2026 and will remain open until the quota has been taken.

Fish harvesters are required to email their Expression of Interest to Resource Management at Kelly.Firmage-OBrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

In your e-mail please include the following:

Name:
FIN:
Address:
Phone #:
E-mail address:
VRN#:
Area selected: 2+3K or 3LMNO or Both areas
For 2+3K: Do you wish to be included in the draw? Yes or No

A valid e-mail address must be included in the application as all future correspondence will be conducted by email. 

Late applications will not be accepted.

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 directly to you by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO is advising Unit 1 Redfish harvesters that the spring spawning closure effective since April 1 has been lifted for the remainder of the 2025-26 fishing season. The Redfish commercial fishery will open April 10, 2026, at 2359 hours ADT until May 14, 2026 at 2359 hours ADT, in the following NAFO areas - Divisions 4RST, Subdivision 4Vn, Subdivision 3Pn. 

To mitigate the risk of Atlantic Cod bycatch during a known seasonal aggregation period, the targeted area closure in portions of NAFO Divisions 4T and 4Vn announced February 24, 2026, remains in effect until May 14, 2026. This closure applies to all fleets and is intended to reduce the likelihood of bycatch events during the early spring period.

Previously established spatial closures as per 2025-26 Conservation Harvesting Plans (CHPs) remain in place. Other targeted fishery closures may be implemented if applicable bycatch caps or allocations are reached.

Until May 14, 2026, a 50% at-sea observer (ASO) coverage requirement applies to all vessels under 30.48 metres (100 feet) participating in the Unit 1 Redfish fishery. A 100% ASO coverage requirement continues to apply to all vessels over 30.48 metres (100 feet). This measure is intended to mitigate risks related to bycatch, unauthorized discards and to ensure accurate catch reporting. Other monitoring requirements and management measures remain in place, and continue to apply, as per the 2025-26 CHP.

Harvesters are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable licence conditions, closures, and monitoring requirements. 

Fish harvesters wishing to participate in this fishery must apply for their Conditions of Licence through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

For assistance with the National Online Licensing System, please contact customer support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-024 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-030 comes into force at 1900 hours NDT on April 10, 2026.

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 the directed Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn, for vessels less than 65 feet using hook and line gear, will open at 0600 hours on April 9, 2026.

The Atlantic halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn will close should the bycatch of cod exceed established protocols.

Fish harvesters are reminded that:

- All licence holders are required to hail-out, at least three hours before leaving port, to the DFO toll-free number at 1-877-637-4315.

- All catch must be reported for applicable hails and Dockside Monitoring services.

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 4R3Pn and 3Ps harvesters that all Units 1 and 2 Redfish fisheries in all fleets, will close 2400 hours March 31, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-016 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-024 will come into force on March 31, 2026.

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 the Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec-based vessel classes A520, A701 to A900 and A2343-A2345 will open at 0500 hours EDT April 1, 2026 and close at 2359 hours EDT on April 28, 2026.

DFO reminds harvesters that a portion of NAFO sub-Division 4Rd and 4Rc (Bay St. George and Port au Port Bay), is closed to ALL groundfish fishing until midnight, June 23, 2026. The purpose of this closure is to protect the Cod spawning activity occurring in this area.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-019 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-023 comes into effect on March 31, 2026.

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 the Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec-based vessel classes A138 to A144, A500 to A519, A521 to A700, A901 to A948, A949 to A990, and A1800 to A1980 will open at 0500 hours EDT on April 1, 2026, and close 2359 hours EDT on May 14, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-019 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-023 comes into effect on March 31, 2026.

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 the Greenland Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec-based vessel classes A500 to A700 will open at 0500 hours EDT on April 1, 2026 and close at 2359 hours EDT on May 14, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-285 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-022 will come into force on March 31, 2026.

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 the 3Ps Greenland Halibut (Turbot) fishery for vessels less than and greater than 65' using gillnets and hook and line gear, will close at 2400 hours March 31, 2026.

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 the skate fishery in NAFO Subdivision 3Ps for the inshore fleets, will close at 2400 hours, March 31, 2026.

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.