PUBLIC NOTICES

DFO advises that in 2024, the recreational groundfish fishery will be open for a total of 39 days.

For the 2024 season, there is no requirement for a licence or tags.

Species and Area:

The recreational groundfish fishery will occur in all NAFO areas/subareas around Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes 2GH, 2J3KL, 3Ps, 3Pn and 4R. Three exceptions are the Eastport, Gilbert Bay and Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.

Season Dates:

Summer Season:

Saturday, June 29, 2024 to Monday, July 01, 2024
Saturday, July 06, 2024 to Monday, July 08, 2024
Saturday, July 13, 2024 to Monday, July 15, 2024
Saturday, July 20, 2024 to Monday, July 22, 2024
Saturday, July 27, 2024 to Monday, July 29, 2024
Saturday, August 03, 2024 to Monday, August 05, 2024
Saturday, August 10, 2024 to Monday, August 12, 2024
Saturday, August 17, 2024 to Monday, August 19, 2024
Saturday, August 24, 2024 to Monday, August 26, 2024
Saturday, August 31, 2024 to Monday, September 02, 2024

Fall Season:

Saturday, September 21, 2024 to Sunday, September 29, 2024

Recreational fishers are limited to five (5) groundfish per day (including Cod). However, the maximum boat limit when three or more people are fishing is 15 groundfish.

For 2024, tour boat operators will be eligible to apply for a licence to seek an increased trip limit. This licence will have harvest reporting requirements. To apply for this license, please contact DFO.ExperimentalLicensing-Experimental.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca .

Provisions will continue that allow a person with a disability to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish. The disability designation form and details on all applicable Management Measures is available online at Fisheries Management Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2024

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2023-308 and 2023-309 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2024-089 and 2024-090 come into effect on June 22, 2024.

"Public Notices" are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, sea scallops, northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks) for recreational or commercial purposes, effective 1600 hours on Monday, May 6, 2024 for a portion of Tommy's Arm, Notre Dame Bay as defined by those waters located inside of the following points:

49.472659° N, 55.760129° W,
49.467834° N, 55.772489° W,
49.468113° N, 55.762232° W,
49.471515° N, 55.765108° W,
49.470037° N, 55.789312° W,
49.46471° N, 55.785578° W.

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website:  Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2023-003 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on May 6, 2024.  

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website:  Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1600 hours on April 22, 2024:

From Ferolle Point (at Lat 51.01983, Long -57.10209), south to Cape Anguille (at Lat 47.89665, Long -59.41210).

More detailed information on remaining closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website: Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2024-001 has been repealed effective 1600 hours on April 22, 2024.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

DFO advises Newfoundland and Labrador seal harvesters that the seal fishery for Ringed Seals will reopen in Sealing Area 4 at 0600 hours on Saturday April 20, 2024. This includes personal use and license classes N300, N301 and N302.

DFO further advises that as per Section 6(3) of the Marine Mammal Regulations, members of the public that reside immediately adjacent to Sealing Area 4 and fish for seals for food purposes, this hunt will reopen on Saturday at 0600 hours on April 20, 2024.

Commercial seal harvesters are reminded to check with their buyers to confirm a market for their seals before going sealing and that licenses and license conditions are available through DFO’s National Online Licensing System.

Additionally, all Commercial and Personal Use Sealers are reminded that landings must be hailed in daily, as per license conditions.

“Notices to Fish Harvesters” for all commercial fisheries and “Notices to the Public” 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” or “Notices to the Public” sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise in-shore harvesters and other interested stakeholders that there is an outreach meeting in St. Anthony scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at the Lions Club.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

“Notices to Public” 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 Public” sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closure for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge clams, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1600 hours on March 30, 2024:

From Ferolle Point (at Lat 51.01983, Long -57.10209), south to Cape Anguille (at Lat 47.89665, Long -59.41210).

As a result, there is reason to believe that the sanitary conditions of the adjacent marine waters may have degraded to the point where accepted water quality standards have been exceeded and the contamination of the water would likely pose a risk to public health if shellfish in the affected area were harvested for consumption.

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website: Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2024-001 comes into effect at 1600 hours on March 30, 2024.

In accordance with Appendix VIII of the CSSP Manual of Operations, these areas must remain closed for a minimum of seven days. There will be a Public Notice when the closure is lifted.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise in-shore harvesters and other interested stakeholders that there is an outreach meeting in Burgeo scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, 2024, from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the Burgeo Haven Dining Room.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

“Notices to Public” 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 Public” sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise in-shore harvesters and other interested stakeholders that there is an outreach meeting in Harbour Breton scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at the Harbour Breton Lion's Club.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

“Notices to Public” 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 Public” sent directly to you by email please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans would like to advise that in-person Outreach meetings will be held throughout the Region in the coming weeks.

The intent of these meetings is to provide inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss matters of concern with respect to the various inshore fisheries.

The Labrador meeting schedule is as follows:

Thursday, February 29, 2024 – Fifty Plus Club, Cartwright: 1:00 pm

"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   

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1400 hours on January 12, 2024:

From Cape Anguille (at Lat 47.89794, Long -59.41205), south to a point at (Lat 47.54734, Long -59.32553), then southeast to a point at (Lat 47.19858, Long -55.74399), then northeast to Friar Head (at Lat 47.39920, Long -55.60833).

More detailed information on remaining closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website: Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2023-006 has been repealed effective 1400 hours on January 12, 2024.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)