Groundfish

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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2023-159 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-205 comes into effect on August 11, 2023.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

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).