Pelagics

DFO advises that the capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear will open on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 0600 hours in that portion of Capelin Fishing Area 8 (Southern Shore) in the following area:

Cape Neddick and Cape Pine

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2023-105 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-126 comes into effect at 0600 hours on July 4, 2023.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 Bluefin Tuna will open to vessels with a fishing port in Quebec at 0500 hours EDT on July 1, 2023 and close on December 31, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-257 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-117 comes into effect on July 1, 2023.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 Bluefin tuna fishery for vessels fishing homewaters in NAFO Divisions 3KLNOP will open at 0600 hours on Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Tags are only available to those harvesters who have declared they will fish homewaters and must be purchased by August 4, 2023.

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

Tuna tags and ICCAT forms are available at DFO Detachment offices in Bay Roberts, Clarenville and Marystown. Harvesters are asked to contact DFO Detachment offices to arrange tag pick up.

Harvesters are reminded that the use of VMS is mandatory for the 2023 season.

Harvesters are also reminded that there is a new logbook for the 2023 season that can be picked up at the Fish Harvesters’ Resource Centres.

Angling gear only may be used while fishing within 12 nautical miles of the nearest point of land.

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

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-257 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-117 comes into effect on July 1, 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 fixed gear herring (bar/tuck seine) fishery for St. Mary’s Bay (Herring Fishing Area 9) will close at 2000 hours on Friday, June 30, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-095 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-120 comes into effect on June 29, 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 mobile gear herring (purse seine) fishery for 3K (Herring Fishing Areas 3-4) will close at 2000 hours on Friday, June 30, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-030 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-119 comes into effect on June 29, 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

The Minister has announced a continuation of the closure of Atlantic mackerel commercial and bait fishing in Atlantic Canada and Quebec for the 2023 season to allow the stock to rebuild.

The results of the 2023 Canadian stock assessment found that Atlantic mackerel declined further in the critical zone since the last assessment, with spawning stock biomass at its lowest-observed value. The stock rebuilding potential is currently limited by a collapsed age structure due to overfishing, low recruitment, and high predation pressure.

Please be advised that the recreational and food, social and ceremonial fisheries will remain open. The exemption for the Bluefin tuna fleet to fish for live Atlantic mackerel bait will continue and alternative bait trials will begin this summer. The Department will monitor these fisheries to ensure that removals do not undermine the goal of rebuilding Atlantic mackerel.

Given the current closure in place, fish harvesters holding licences are not required to renew their licences as long as the fishery remains closed. The Department has no intention to cancel any mackerel licence as a result of the continued mackerel fishery closure. Mackerel licence eligibility will continue to be connected to the current licence holders and tracked in the Department’s licensing systems.

The Department is optimistic that the Atlantic mackerel stock can rebuild, and we are committed to supporting the future re-opening of the Atlantic mackerel commercial and bait fisheries.

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 2023 buddy-up applications are available.

Harvesters can request these forms by submitting a request through NOLS Submitting a Request and Checking the Request Status: Step-by-Step

- Select Submit Request

- Select Request Type – Partnership/Pooling/Buddy Up

- Enter “Capelin Buddy-up Application” in the comments section

Please note that Buddy-up Applications MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED each year PRIOR to the start of the 2023 capelin fishing season.

"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 fish harvesters that the opening date for the commercial eel fishery in inland waters using eel pots is July 1, 2023.

The season will open to fyke nets on August 15, 2023.

The eel fishery for all gear types will close on October 31, 2023.

Fish harvesters are reminded that closures due to environmental conditions on scheduled salmon rivers will result in closure of the eel fishery on these rivers. During the closures, fish harvesters will be permitted to leave the fyke nets in the rivers. However, the bag on the end of the net must be removed to permit the escapement of salmonids and eels.

"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 details of the 2023 management measures for the 2J3KLPs Capelin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

2J3KLPs Capelin Management Plan 2023

Plan de gestion de la pêche du capelan dans les divisions 2J et 3KL et la sous-division 3Ps en 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 Capelin purse seine fishery for mobile gear vessels less than 65', in Capelin Fishing Areas 13 and 14 (NAFO Division 4R) will open at 0600 hours on June 21, 2023.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-097 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-108 comes into effect on June 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