Pelagics

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be pausing the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in all Mackerel Fishing Areas as of 12:00 PM (Atlantic Daylight Time) on August 20, 2026. This notice to stop fishing is for conservation purposes as landings are nearing the second 466.67 tonne portion of the total allowable catch (TAC).  

For harvesters with a multi-species bait licence, please refer to your conditions of licence. 

The third opening for the 2026 mackerel bait fishery is planned for early October and will be communicated separately.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2026-140 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-146 will come into force on August 20, 2026.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will open the competitive, personal-use Atlantic mackerel bait fishery on August 17, 2026 in Newfoundland and Labrador Mackerel Fishing Areas 1 through 14 at 0600 hours.

An additional opening is tentatively scheduled for early October and will be communicated separately. These openings implement the additional bait fishing access announced by the Department on July 3, 2026. 

Participating harvesters will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs) to be fished by either gillnet or handline. Monitoring will be achieved using various measures, including a 100% hail-in requirement in all regions. Additional information related to conditions of licence, will be available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2026-096 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-140 will come into force on at 0600 hours on August 17, 2026.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises harvesters that all capelin fisheries in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region are closing on August 7, 2026 at 2200 hours.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-105 and 2026-097 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-131 and 2026-132 come into effect at 2200 hours on August 7, 2026.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.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises harvesters that all capelin fisheries in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region are closing on August 7, 2026 at 2200 hours.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-105 and 2026-097 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-131 and 2026-132 come into effect at 2200 hours on August 7, 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 reminds harvesters that the Bait Season for herring in Herring Fishing Areas 3 to 10 and that portion of Herring Fishing Area 11 from Point Crewe to Western Head, Hare Bay is closed from July 15 to August 15, 2026.

Harvesters are reminded that all bait nets must be removed from the water.

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 capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear (tuck, bar seine and trap) will open in the following areas in White Bay (Capelin Fishing Area 3):

July 11, 2026 at 0600 hours in
• Cape Fox to Hampden, Inclusive
• Bottom of White Bay to Cape St. John

July 13, 2026 at 0600 hours in
• Fischot Island to Cape Fox

Harvesters are reminded that the fishery must be open for 24 hours before any Capelin can be removed from any fixed Gear.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO’s National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-103 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-105 comes into effect on July 11, 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 capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear (tuck, bar seine and trap) will open on July 12, 2026 at 0600 hours in the following area:

North Head to Dog Bay Point (Capelin Fishing Area 4)

Harvesters are reminded that the fishery must be open for 24 hours before any Capelin can be removed from any fixed gear.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO’s National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-103 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-105 comes into effect on July 11, 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 capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear (tuck, bar seine and trap) will open on July 10, 2026 at 0600 hours in the following areas:

• Dog Bay Point to Cape Freels (Capelin Fishing Area 4).

Harvesters are reminded that the fishery must be open for 24 hours before any Capelin can be removed from any fixed Gear.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO’s National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-101 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-103 comes into effect on July 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.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be pausing the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in all Mackerel Fishing Areas as of 12:00 PM on July 8, 2026. This notice to stop fishing is for conservation purposes as landings have surpassed the first 466.67 tonne portion of the total allowable catch (TAC).  

The second 466.67 tonnes for the Atlantic mackerel personal-use bait fishery is scheduled to be released in August with the exact date to be communicated in the coming weeks. For harvesters with a multi-species bait licence, please refer to your conditions of licence. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2026-073 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-096 will come into force at 1100 hours on July 8, 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 Bluefin tuna fishery for vessels fishing homewaters in NAFO Divisions 3KLNOP will open at 0600 hours on July 9, 2026.

Licence conditions will be available prior to opening on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). Observer coverage must be paid prior to tag purchase.

Tuna tags and forms are available at DFO Detachment offices in Bay Roberts, Clarenville and Marystown.

Bluefin tuna harvesters are encouraged to return tuna heads to one of the locations listed in the Conservation Harvesting Plan and record the tag number.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-269 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-102 comes into effect on July 08, 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.