Pelagics

DFO advises that the fixed gear herring (gillnet/trap) fisheries for White Bay, Notre Dame Bay, Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay, Conception Bay, the Southern Shore and St. Mary's Bay, (Herring Fishing Areas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) will close at 2000 hours on June 14, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-049 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-072 will come into force on May 27, 2026.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.

As an interim management measure pending results of the 2026 Atlantic mackerel assessment on May 27th, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will release 220 tonnes of the Atlantic mackerel Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the competitive, personal-use bait fishery. 

This fishery will open on May 27, 2026 at 0600 hours. 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. Additional information related to conditions of licence, will be available through the National Online Licensing System. 

Following the stock assessment and subsequent discussions with the Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Committee, the Department will communicate the 2026 management approach for Atlantic mackerel.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-272 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-073 comes into effect on May 27, 2026.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 details of the 2026 and 2027 management measures for the 4RST Capelin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

Fisheries Management Decision 2026 and 2027 Capelin in NAFO Divisions 4RST

Décision de gestion des pêches 2026-2027 Pêche du capelan dans les divisions 4RST de l’OPANO

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 details of the 2026 and 2027 management measures for the 4RST Capelin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

Fisheries Management Decision 2026 and 2027 Capelin in NAFO Divisions 4RST

Décision de gestion des pêches 2026-2027 Pêche du capelan dans les divisions 4RST de l’OPANO

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 Fixed Gear (Tuck Seine) Herring fishery will open by permit only on May 5, 2026 at 0600 hours and close on May 19, 2026 at 2200 hours in Bonavista Bay, Herring Fishing Area 5.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO's National Online Licensing System (NOLS) for those harvesters who have been contacted for the above date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-038 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-049 comes into effect on May 5, 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 Fixed Gear (Tuck Seine) Herring fishery will open by permit only on April 22, 2026 at 0600 hours and close on May 1, 2026 at 2200 hours in Trinity Bay, Herring Fishing Area 6.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO's National Online Licensing System (NOLS) for those harvesters who have been contacted for the above date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-028 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-038 comes into effect on April 22, 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 for Trinity Bay (Herring Fishing Area 6) will close at 2300 hours on April 8, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-027 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-029 comes into force at 2000 hours on April 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 Fixed Gear (Tuck Seine, Gillnet and Trap net) Herring fisheries will open on April 08, 2026 at 0600 hours for the following areas:
Herring Fishing Area 5 - Bonavista Bay
Herring Fishing Area 6 - Trinity Bay
Herring Fishing Area 7 - Conception Bay
Herring Fishing Area 8 - Southern Shore
Herring Fishing Area 10 - Placentia Bay
Herring Fishing Area 11 - Fortune Bay
Herring Fishing Area 11.1 Pass Island to Cinq Cerf

Gillnets and traps will open on April 8, 2026 at 0600 hours for the following areas:  
Herring Fishing Area 3 - White Bay
Herring Fishing Area 4 - Notre Dame Bay
Herring Fishing Area 9 - St. Mary's Bay  

Gillnets only will open on April 8, 2026 at 0600 hours for the following area:
Herring Fishing Area 12

Fish harvesters are reminded that logbooks are mandatory in these Fixed Gear Herring fisheries.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-020 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-028 will come into force April 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.

DFO advises that the Mobile Gear (Purse Seine) Herring fishery will open on April 8, 2026 at 0600 hours in White Bay, Notre Dame Bay, Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay, Conception Bay and the Southern Shore (Herring Fishing Areas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-021 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-027 will come into force April 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 reminds harvesters that herring fisheries in all Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) for mobile gear purse seine are closed.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-017 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-021 comes into effect on March 31, 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.