Groundfish

DFO advises that landings for the 2023 2J3KL Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery total 6,717 t for the period up to and including Monday, August 21st.

The Department will continue to monitor this fishery closely to ensure that the total harvest in 3KL remains within the maximum authorized harvest allocated for the summer period (7,799t) as per the CHP. Should landings approach this maximum authorized harvest prior to the end of the scheduled summer period (September 10), the fishery will close as per the CHP.

An update will be communicated to harvesters by a Notice to Fishers later this week or early next week if necessary.

“Notices to Fish Harvesters” for all commercial fisheries are 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 that the Greenland Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec-based harvesters, will open at 0430 hours (EDT) on August 16, 2023 and close at 2359 hours (EDT) on September 22, 2023, for vessel classes A138 to A144, A949 to A990 and A2300 to A2456.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2023-215 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-223 comes into effect on August 16, 2023.

"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) Inshore Longline Test fishery in NAFO Divisions 3K and 3L will open on August 15, 2023 at 0600 hours for those harvesters who have been issued permits in the following vessel classes:

A158, A159

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2023-109 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-215 comes into effect on August 15, 2023.

"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 based in the Quebec Region, will open at 0001 hours EDT August 13, 2023 and close at 2359 hours EDT October 21, 2023. The specific vessel classes affected by these openings and closings are A520 and A701 to A900.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-212 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-214 comes into effect at on August 12, 2023.

"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 Inshore fishery in NAFO Divisions 3NO for Atlantic Halibut, Monkfish, Skate and White hake using longline will open on August 20, 2023 at 0600 hours for the following vessel classes:

A251, A254, A257, A260, A263, A266, A269, and A272

Licence conditions can be obtained by emailing Robynn.Earle@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  or by calling (709) 772-5845.

Fish harvesters are reminded that all licence holders are required to provide a Daily Report of your fishing activity.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2022-252 and 2023-205 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-212 and 2023-213 comes into effect on August 12, 2023.

"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 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 4, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, August 14, 2023. This fishery is open to Vessel class A291 and will close at 2000 hours on August 27, 2023.

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 2023-159 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-205 comes into effect on August 11, 2023.

"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 that the Winter flounder (Blackback) fishery in NAFO Divisions 3KL will open at 0600 hours on July 26, 2023.

Fish harvesters should review their conditions to be familiar with by-catch provisions for this fishery. By-catch levels will be closely monitored and areas will be closed where cod by-catch is excessive.

Licence conditions are available through the National Online Licencing System.

"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 is seeking the names of fish harvesters with homeports in 3K and 3L interested in participating in a test fishery for Turbot using longlines in 3K and 3L in water depths less than 160 fms (inshore crab zones).

This fishery will be open to those harvesters who hold fixed gear groundfish licenses in 3KL.

The following are some of the management measures that would be applicable:
• Permit amount of 7,500 lbs. round weight.
• Self-funded at-sea observer coverage.
• All cod by-catch caught will count towards weekly limits in the Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery.
• Harvesters are restricted to fishing in the inshore crab areas of the NAFO division of their homeport.
• The opening date will be determined when the Snow crab fishery concludes in both NAFO areas.
• Seven permits will be issued for each NAFO Area.

Interested fish harvesters must e-mail their name and FIN to robynn.earle@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. If required, a draw will be held to select names.

The deadline for the submission of names will be close of business on Friday, July 28, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

"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 is aware that some Stewardship Cod harvesters have experienced issues receiving their licence conditions for the 2023 Stewardship Cod fishery via the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Licence conditions will be uploaded to NOLS after 9:00pm today, July 21, 2023.

Please be advised that you must download and print these conditions prior to your first fishing trip.

“Notices to Fish Harvesters” for all commercial fisheries are 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 would like to remind harvesters fishing in the Northern cod Stewardship Fishery that logbooks must be completed for all fishing trips.

Harvesters fishing with vessels less than 35’ are required to complete and submit the white ‘Fixed Gear Logbook for the Less Than 35 Foot Vessel Sector.’ Harvesters must make and maintain a copy of each fishing trip for the entire fishing season and the logbook must be produced for inspection upon request by a Fishery Officer. A completed and accurate log must be submitted when the logbook is fully completed, or at the end of the fishing season, whichever comes first.

Harvesters fishing with vessels greater than 35’ are required to complete and submit the ‘General Fisheries Log.’ A completed and accurate log must be submitted at the end of the first week of the calendar year in which fishing activity takes place, and at the end of each and every subsequent week, or at the end of each fishing trip, whichever comes first, until fishing activity ceases for the year.

“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