Shellfish

DFO wishes to remind harvesters of the following closing dates for the following 3K lobster fishing areas:

Note all closing times are 2000 hours.

LFA 3 (White Bay): July 15, 2026
LFA 4A (Notre Dame Bay West): July 11, 2026
LFA 4B (Notre Dame Bay East): July 4, 2026

Fish harvesters are reminded that all fishing gear must be removed from the water by closing time.

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 wishes to remind harvesters of the following closing dates for the following 3L lobster fishing areas:

Note all closing times are 2000 hours.

LFA 5 (Bonavista Bay): July 13, 2026
LFA 6 (Trinity Bay): July 9, 2026
LFA 7 (Conception Bay): July 8, 2026
LFA 8 (Southern Shore): July 5, 2026
LFA 9A (Trepassey Bay): July 4, 2026
LFA 9B (St. Mary's Bay): July 3, 2026

Fish harvesters are reminded that all fishing gear must be removed from the water by closing time.

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 Snow Crab fishery will open at 0600 hours on June 18, 2026 for NAFO divisions 2HJ North of 54 40. This fishery will close at 1800 hours on August 31, 2026.

Fish Harvesters are also reminded that all designations to participate in this fishery are issued by the Nunatsiavut Government and Torngat Fisheries Cooperative Limited and must be in place prior to participating.

Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 72 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 0600 hours on June 21, 2026, is prohibited.

Licence fees and licence conditions are 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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-057 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-080 will come into force on June 12, 2026.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 Sea scallop fishery in the 3Ps Core in Scallop Fishing Area (SFA) 11 will also close on June 11 at 2000 hours.

The Icelandic Scallop fishery remains open in this area for licence holders that are authorized to catch Icelandic scallop in the Core Zone.

The Core Area is defined as that portion of Scallop Fishing Area 11, bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates:

46 degrees 52.7 minutes North latitude, 57 degrees 28 minutes West longitude to
46 degrees 52.7 minutes North latitude, 56 degrees 29 minutes West longitude to
46 degrees 30.0 minutes North latitude, 56 degrees 29 minutes West longitude to
46 degrees 30.0 minutes North latitude, 57 degrees 28 minutes West longitude to
46 degrees 52.7 minutes North latitude, 57 degrees 28 minutes West longitude.

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 Scallop Fishery in the 3Ps North Bed in Scallop Fishing Area (SFA) 11 will close on June 11, 2026, at 2000 hours. It is expected that the Quota has been reached.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Variation Order 2026-076 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-078 comes into effect on June 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.

DFO advises that the Scallop fishery in Scallop Fishing Area 2 will open June 5, 2026 at 0600 hours.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-059 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-076 comes into effect on June 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 Whelk fishery will open in NAFO Divisions 2HJ 3KL at 0600 hours on June 6, 2026.

License fees and license conditions are available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

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 Sea Cucumber fishery in NAFO Division 3Ps remains closed.

An opening date will be determined in consultation with industry representatives and communicated at a later date.

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 Whelk fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will open at 0600 hours on May 31, 2026 and close 2000 hours on Friday, October 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.
 

DFO advises that in accordance with the soft-shell protocol, the following grids in Crab Fishing Area 4 in NAFO Division 3K will close to fishing Snow Crab and Northern Shrimp at 2400 hours on May 25, 2026 due to a high incidence of soft-shell crab:

Grid AC 38

These grids will be closed to Snow crab fishing for the remainder of the year. Harvesters should note that all gear in these grids must be removed immediately. Gear must be hauled and not reset on your next fishing trip.

The closure for Northern shrimp is in effect for 60 days, and will re-open on July 24, 2026, if the shrimp fishery is open at that time.

Grid quadrant AC 38 is defined as the area bounded by the following coordinates:

50° 40' North, 54° 10' West;
50° 40' North, 54° 00' West;
50° 30' North, 54° 00' West;
50° 30' North, 54° 10' West; 
50° 40' North, 54° 10' West.

Public Notices 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 all Public Notices sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.