Shellfish

DFO advises that buddy-up arrangements for Fulltime and Supplementary Snow crab fleets in NAFO Division 3K Area 4 are now authorized. This is a temporary measure for 2025.

Buddy-up Applications are now available on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). Harvesters interested in applying for a buddy-up arrangement may submit completed applications through NOLS.

Harvesters experiencing difficulties accessing their online NOLS account should contact the NOLS Support Line at 1-877-535-7307 for assistance.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the inshore Shrimp fishery in Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 6 for vessels less than 90 feet, based in NAFO Divisions 2J, 3K, 3L, and 4R will open at 6:00 AM on Wednesday April 2, 2025.

Licence fees and licence conditions will soon be available in the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

"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 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 harvesters that at the request of industry representatives, the Newfoundland and Labrador Snow crab fishery will not open on April 1, 2025.

Once the season opening date is determined, the details will be communicated broadly.

"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 harvesters that the following fisheries will close at 2400 hours on Monday, March 31, 2025 for the 2024-25 fishing season:

•    3PS Skate, Monk and White Hake fixed gear fisheries for the inshore fleets, 
•    3Ps fixed gear Winter Flounder (Blackback),
•    3Ps Greenland Halibut (Turbot) fishery for vessels less than and greater than 65' using gillnets and hook and line gear, 
•    Unit 1 Mobile gear Redfish 3Ps, inshore and EGSL,
•    Division 4R Cod Spawning Closure,
•    3Ps Placentia Bay Scallop,
•    2J3KLPS4R herring fisheries. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-010 and 2025-013 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-014 and 2025-015 come into force at 2359 hours on March 31, 2025.

“Notices to Fish Harvesters” for all commercial fisheries are available online at 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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the details of the 2025 management measures and quota levels for the Snow Crab fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

2025 Snow Crab Fishery, Newfoundland and Labrador

"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 wishes to advise lobster harvesters that a declaration is required for Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 11W for the 2025 season.

Please note a declaration is only required if you intend to fish in LFA 11W (that portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 west of Western Head, Hare Bay).

All LFA 11 harvesters that do not declare their intention to fish in LFA 11W will be issued a license to fish in LFA 11E (that portion of Lobster Fishing Area 11 located east of Western Head, Hare Bay).

PLEASE NOTE:

Declarations must be requested through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Declarations must be received by close of business day Thursday, April 3, 2025.

 “Notices to Fish Harvesters” for all commercial fisheries are available online at 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 wishes to advise inshore crab harvesters in Crab Fishing Areas 3B (White Bay) and 3C (Green Bay) in NAFO Division 3K that applications for CFA 3BC are now available.

Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center by phone or e-mail. Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

Applications must be returned by close of business on March 7, 2025.

Return applications by email to: kelly.firmage-obrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

"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 wishes to advise inshore crab harvesters in Crab Fishing Areas 3B (White Bay) and 3C (Green Bay) in NAFO Division 3K that applications for CFA 3BC are now available.

Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center by phone or e-mail. Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

Applications must be returned by close of business on March 7, 2025.

Return applications by email to: kelly.firmage-obrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

"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 wishes to advise Area 2J Inshore snow crab harvesters that the 2025 buddy-up application is available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) National Online Licensing System (NOLS) 

The Inshore snow crab application can be downloaded and submitted by following Step-By-Step Instructions through  Step-By-Step Instructions through NOLS

- Select Submit Request

- Select Request Type – Partnership/Pooling/Buddy Up

- Select Request Subtype – Snow Crab

- Select the Instructions link to open, and save or print the application

-Complete and sign the application (Fish Harvester A and Fish Harvester B must sign the same application.

-Save a Scanned copy or picture of the signed application

-Select Browse to attach the signed application to your request

-Select Submit

Any harvesters experiencing issues with accessing their online NOLS account, should contact the NOLS Support Line 1-877-535-7307 to have the issue resolved.

"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 wishes to advise inshore snow crab harvesters that the 2025 Buddy-up Application is available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) National Online Licensing System

The inshore snow crab buddy-up application can be downloaded and submitted by following Step-By-Step Instructions through NOLS  Step-By-Step Instructions through NOLS

Select Submit Request

• Select Request Type - Partnership/Pooling/Buddy Up
• Select Request Subtype - Snow Crab
• Select the Instructions link to open and save or print the application
• Complete and sign the application (Fish Harvester A and Fish Harvester B must sign the same application)
• Save a Scanned copy or picture of the signed application
• Select Browse to attach the signed application to your request
• Select Submit

Any harvesters experiencing issues with accessing their online NOLS account, should contact the NOLS Support Line 1-877-535-7307 to have the issue resolved.

"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