Groundfish

DFO advises that the base authorized catch limits for 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear Regular Season harvesters in the Northern cod fishery (vessel classes A295 and A283) will change effective November 9, 2025:

- Regular Season Option = 20,000 lbs. base weekly limit

New licence conditions for all 3KL-based regular season harvesters will be available soon via the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). The online Conservation Harvesting Plan will be updated to include this in-season adjustment. 

Activity continues to be closely monitored to ensure the total harvest remains within the inshore fleet allocation. There is approximately 5,000 t remaining for 3KL-based harvesters. Any additional in-season changes or adjustments will be communicated via a Notice to Fishers.

Harvesters are reminded to ensure that catch limits are not exceeded by setting only the amount of fishing gear that is necessary and that fishing gear shall not be left unattended in the water for more than 72 consecutive hours. 

"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 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (vessels less than 65 feet) will open to NL based harvesters with Reserve Allocation for vessel class C450. The fishery will open at 0600 hours on Friday, October 31, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2025-252 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-254 comes into force on October 31, 2025.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 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (vessels less than 65 feet) will open to NL based harvesters with Reserve Allocation for vessel classes C434, C439 and C464. The fishery will open at 0600 hours on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2025-250 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-252 comes into force on October 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 the 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (vessels less than 65 feet) will open to NL based harvesters with Reserve Allocation for vessel class C447 and C451. The fishery will open at 0600 hours on Friday, October 24, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2025-247 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-250 comes into force on October 24, 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 Witch flounder (Greysole) fishery for vessels less than 65 feet, using Danish seine (vessel classes C50 and C351), will close in NAFO sub-Division 4Rd - from a line drawn due west of Cape Ray, north to a line drawn due west of Cape St. George at 2000 hours on October 22, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-127 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-249 comes into effect at 1800 hours on October 22, 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 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (vessels less than 65 feet) will open to NL based harvesters with Reserve Allocation for vessel class C420.  The fishery will open at 0600 hours on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2025-246 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-247 comes into force on October 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 4R portion of the Unit 1 Redfish fishery (less than 65 feet fleet) for the inshore mobile gear vessel classes C363, C364, C369, C370, C373, C376, C381, C385, C387, C393, C396, C399, C400, C401, C405, C406, C407, C410, C412, C415, C417, C419, C421, C422, C423, C424, C432, C433, C436, C437, C440, C442, C443, C444, C445, C448, C449, C452, C453, C455, C456, C457, C458, C459, C460, C461 and the Estuary and Gulf shrimp fleet for vessel classes C361, C362, C365, C366, C367, C368, C371, C372, C374, C375, C377, C378, C379, C380, C382, C383, C384, C386, C388, C389, C390, C391, C392, C394, C395, C396, C398, C403, C404, C409, C411, C413, C414, C418  will open at 0100 hours on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

DFO would like to advise licence holders when fishing Unit 1 Redfish, as per your conditions of licence, you are required to hail-out at least three hours before leaving port and every day when fishing longer than 24 hours.  You are required to hail using Schedule 16A approved format. 

Hail information must be submitted by email to DFO.Hails65-rapport65.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Schedule 16A can be found on the DFO’s website at Schedule 16A: Schedule 16A: DFO approved format

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2025-100 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-246 comes into force on October 4, 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 4, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, September 29, 2025. This fishery is open to Vessel class A291 and will close at 2000 hours on October 26, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-215 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-244 comes into effect on September 26, 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 2J3KL Northern Cod fishery for the inshore mobile gear fleet (vessel class C175) will open on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 0600 hours and is scheduled to close April 14, 2026. 

Conditions of licence will be available soon through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-216 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-241 comes into effect on September 11, 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 Northern cod fishery will open for fall-only harvesters (vessel class A296) on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 0600 hours. DFO also advises that catch and gear limits for the 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear fleet in the Northern cod fishery (vessel classes A296, A295, and A283) will change for the fall period. The online Conservation Harvesting Plan will be updated to include the in-season adjustments. 

Effective Sunday, September 14, 2025, base authorized catch limits for 3KL-based harvesters are:  
- Regular Season Option = 12,000 lbs. base weekly limit
- Fall Only Option = 24,000 lbs. base trip limit 

New licence conditions for all 3KL-based harvesters will be available soon via the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Activity continues to be closely monitored to ensure the total harvest remains within the inshore fleet allocation. There is approximately 12,800 t remaining for 3KL-based harvesters. Any additional in-season changes or adjustments will be communicated via a Notice to Fishers. 
 
Harvesters are reminded to ensure that catch limits are not exceeded by setting only the amount of fishing gear that is necessary and that fishing gear shall not be left unattended in the water for more than 72 consecutive hours. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-216 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-241 comes into effect on September 11, 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