Pelagics

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – July 3, 2026 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada increases Total Allowable Catch for Atlantic mackerel and Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence fall herring fishery  - Canada.ca. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has increased the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Atlantic mackerel to 1,500 tonnes (t), replacing the previous decision that set a 500t TAC in 2025 and 2026. This TAC includes 1,400t for the personal-use bait fishery, 60t for bycatch and 20t each to support scientific sampling and live bait for the bluefin tuna fishery.

Along with the increase in TAC, DFO is setting three fishery openings for Atlantic mackerel bait fishery: May 27 (already open), and two additional openings tentatively scheduled for August, and October. A total of 466.67t will be released on each opening date. As 220t were previously released on May 27, an additional 246.67t is being released immediately. 

Please be advised the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery is a competitive fishery and is intended for personal-use only. Eligible fish harvesters participating in this fishery 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. For additional information please refer to your conditions of licence.
 

DFO advises that the capelin fishery for vessels using mobile gear will open on July 1, 2026, at 0600 hours in Notre Dame Bay (Capelin Fishing Area 4).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-091 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-097 comes into effect on July 01, 2026.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 mobile gear herring (purse seine) fishery will close at 2200 hours on June 30, 2026 for: 

White Bay HFA 3, 
Notre Dame Bay HFA 4, 
Bonavista Bay HFA 5,
Conception Bay HFA 7, 
Southern Shore HFA 8.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-029 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-093 comes into force on June 30, 2026.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 June 29, 2026 at 0600 hours in Bonavista Bay and Conception Bay (Capelin Fishing Areas 5 and 7).

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 On-line Licencing System.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-088 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-090 comes into effect on June 29, 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 June 30, 2026 at 0600 hours in Trinity Bay (Capelin Fishing Area 6).

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 On-line Licencing System.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-088 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-090 comes into effect on June 29, 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 mobile gear will open on June 30, 2026 at 0600 hours in Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay and Conception Bay (Capelin Fishing Areas 5, 6 and 7).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-074 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-091 comes into effect on June 29, 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 fixed gear fishery using traps and bar seine (including modified bar seine known as "tuck seine"), for the large vessel fleet (less than 65 feet (19.8m)) in the following area will open at 0600 hours on June 25, 2026:

Capelin Fishing Area 14 from the Quebec/Labrador border, north to Cape Charles.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-085 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-088 comes into effect on June 25, 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 will open on June 23, 2026 at 0600 hours in that portion of Capelin Fishing Area 8 (Southern Shore) in the following area:

Cape Neddick and Cape Pine

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 2026-083 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-085 comes into effect on June 23, 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 National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

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 wishes to advise fixed gear capelin license holders with homeports in Green Bay and the portion of White Bay from Hampden to Cape John that the 2026 buddy-up applications are available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

PLEASE NOTE: COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE NATIONAL ONLINE LICENCING SYSTEM. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE 2026 CAPELIN SEASON.

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 fixed gear fishery using traps and bar seine (including modified bar seine known as "tuck seine"), for the large vessel fleet (less than 65 feet (19.8m)) in the following areas will open at 0600 hours on June 19, 2026:

Capelin Fishing Area 14:
Ingornachiox Bay and Hawkes Bay
Point Riche to Big Brook
Big Brook to Cape Bauld 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-075 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-083 comes into effect on June 19, 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.