Groundfish

DFO advises that at the request of industry, the directed Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4RST for the NL fleet scheduled for July 24, 2023 to August 6, 2023 will not proceed.

Affected harvesters will be contacted by the FSSSB to select a future fishing period. A further announcement will be made regarding harvesters affected in this fishing period.

"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 at the request of industry, the directed Atlantic halibut fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will close for fixed gear vessels less than 65 feet using longlines at 2000 hours on Friday, July 21, 2023.

The retention of Atlantic halibut bycatch in other open directed groundfish fisheries in 3Ps will continue to be authorized at this time.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2023-131 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-159 comes into effect on July 21, 2023.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 harvesters that the Stewardship Cod Fishery in NAFO divisions 2J3KL will open on Sunday July 23, 2023 at 06:00 hours to vessel classes A283, A292, and A295.

Fish Harvesters are advised that licence conditions will be available soon on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Harvesters are reminded that they are to ensure that landing limits are not exceeded by setting only the amount of fishing gear that is necessary to catch the weekly or bi-weekly limits. This is particularly important at the start of the season when fish abundance levels are unknown.

Further details on gear and catch limits can be found in the Conservation Harvesting Plan at: 2023 Conservation harvesting plan (CHP): 2J3KL Stewardship Cod Fishery

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2022-242 and 2023-010 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2023-153 and 2023-154 come into effect on July 20, 2023.

“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

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans advises harvesters of the following management measures for the 2+3K <65 FG Greenland Halibut Fisheries starting July 21, 2023:

• 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 20, 2023.

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 and 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: danielle.nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Harvesters are reminded to contact the Department by the following deadlines if they are selecting the 3KL fall only period and/or selecting a fishing area outside of their homeport (i.e., 2J to 3KL or 3KL to 2J). 

FALL FISHERY OPTION:

Fish harvesters selecting the 3KL fall only fishery option MUST indicate their intention via e-mail to Robyn.Lee@dfo-mpo.gc.ca by Monday, July 17, 2023. 

Any 3KL harvester who does not select the 3KL fall only fishery option by this deadline will receive conditions authorizing them to fish the regular season (July 23 – November 4).  

FISHING OUTSIDE HOMEPORT OPTION:

Harvesters may select to change their fishing area outside of their homeport. Fish harvesters opting to change their fishing area MUST indicate their intention via e-mail to Robyn.Lee@dfo-mpo.gc.ca by Friday, July 21, 2023. Requests for a change in fishing area after July 21, 2023 will not be accepted. 

Harvesters must provide their FULL NAME, FIN, and HOMEPORT in their email(s) and their requested option(s). 

DFO advises that the Atlantic Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec-based vessel classes A2343 to A2456 will open at 0430 hours EDT on July 14, 2023 and close on September 22, 2023 at 2359 hours EDT.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-121 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-131 comes into effect on July 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 of the season dates and catch limits for the 2023 2J3KL Northern cod Stewardship fishery as indicated below.

Season Dates:

In NAFO division 2J, the fishery is scheduled to open on Sunday, July 23 and is scheduled to close on Saturday October 14, 2023.

In NAFO divisions 3KL, the fishery is scheduled to open on Sunday, July 23 and is scheduled to close on Saturday November 4, 2023.

Catch Limits (all weights are round weight):

In NAFO division 2J, the following 2023 base bi-weekly authorized catch limits for cod apply:

July 23 - September 2: 30,000 lbs base bi-weekly

September 3 - October 14: 40,000 lbs base bi-weekly

In NAFO divisions 3KL, the following 2023 base weekly authorized catch limits for cod apply:

July 23 – September 9: 3,850 lbs base/week

September 10 - November 4: 8,500 lbs base bi-weekly

For fish harvesters that have acquired additional cod shares through enterprise combining adjusted catch limits will be identified in their licence conditions.

To promote the distribution of catch throughout the season in 2023, 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 fall from September 10 to November 4, 2023 in 3KL.

Fall only Fishery Option (applicable to NAFO Divisions 3KL only):

Fish harvesters that choose the 3KL fall only fishery option will not be able to fish prior to September 10 and may only fish from September 10 - November 4, 2023 with a limit of 17,000 lbs base bi-weekly (round weight).

Fish harvesters that want to avail of the 3KL fall only fishery option MUST indicate their intention via e-mail to Robyn.Lee@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  by Monday, July 17, 2023.

Harvesters must provide their FULL NAME, FIN, HOMEPORT in their email.

Any harvester who does not select the fall only fishery option by the deadline will receive conditions authorizing them to fish in the same NAFO area as their homeport. A 2J based licence holder will receive conditions for July 23 - October 14 and a 3KL based licence holder will receive conditions for the regular season (July 23 - November 4) at the catch limits identified above.

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 - 2023

Additional changes to note for 2023:

New for 2023: Prior to submitting your 2023 groundfish logbook you must make and maintain a copy of each fishing trip, which must be available for inspection upon request of a Fishery Officer.

As in previous years, fish harvesters will have the option to change their fishing area outside of their homeport (i.e. 2J to 3KL, or 3KL to 2J). 

New for 2023: A harvester wishing to change their fishing area must indicate their intention via e-mail to Robyn.Lee@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  no later than July 21, 2023.

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, 2023.

The 3Pn portion of the Unit 2 Redfish Fishery for the mobile gear fleets will open at 0600 hours on July 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 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 3, 2023. This fishery is open to Vessel class A288 and will close at 2000 hours on July 16, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-104 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-121 comes into effect on June 30, 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 management approach for the 2023 2J3KL Northern cod stewardship fishery has been announced.

Further details can be found online at the following website:

Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2023