PUBLIC NOTICES

DFO advises that in 2022, the recreational groundfish fishery will be open for a total of 39 days. 

For the 2022 season, there is no requirement for licences 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, July 02, 2022 to Monday, July 04, 2022

Saturday, July 09, 2022 to Monday, July 11, 2022

Saturday, July 16, 2022 to Monday, July 18, 2022

Saturday, July 23, 2022 to Monday, July 25, 2022

Saturday, July 30, 2022 to Monday, August 01, 2022

Saturday, August 06, 2022 to Monday, August 08, 2022

Saturday, August 13, 2022 to Monday, August 15, 2022

Saturday, August 20, 2022 to Monday, August 22, 2022

Saturday, August 27, 2022 to Monday, August 29, 2022

Saturday, September 03, 2022 to Monday, September 05, 2022

Fall Season:

Saturday, September 24, 2022 to Sunday, October 02, 2022

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.

Provisions will continue that allow a person with a disability to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish will continue. Applicants can access the designation for persons with a disability form here: Fisheries management decisions

First time applicants are required to download, complete and have their doctor/ophthalmologist complete a section of the form. However, individuals who are looking to renew can complete the form electronically by saving it and sending via email or clicking submit at the bottom of the form during which time an email will be generated for the applicant. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application electronically, via email. Applications received via regular mail may result in delays to processing your application.

For 2022, tour boat operators will be eligible to apply for a licence to seek an increased trip limit. This licence will have harvest reporting requirements.

Further details on all applicable Management Measures can be found at 2022 Newfoundland and Labrador recreational Groundfish fishery

For safety reasons, fishing is only permitted from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. The public is reminded to follow safe boating practices and be aware of local weather and sea conditions before leaving port.

Participants in the recreational groundfish fishery are further reminded to inspect their catch carefully for pink or yellow tags, located on the back of the fish. The tags are uniquely numbered and have a DFO address and reward value ($10 or $100) printed on them. Participants should return the tag along with the location and date of capture, and include their mailing address, to claim the tag reward.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2021-299 and 2021-300 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2022-080 and 2022-081 come into effect on June 21, 2022.

"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: Karen.Keats-Brett@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closure to 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, northern moon snails, waved whelks, Stimpson's whelks, except sea scallops) for recreational or commercial purposes effective 1800hrs Tuesday, May 31, 2022 for the that portion of Tommy's Arm bounded by the shoreline and a series of straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:

49.47304 N 55.75942 W, to a point at  

49.46774 N 55.76196 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 

49.46464 N 55.78563 W, to a point at 

49.47014 N 55.78963 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 

49.47103 N 55.77843 W, to a point at 

49.47234 N 55.77005, then along the shoreline back to the point of commencement.

More detailed information on other 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-2022-048 comes into effect 1800hrs Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

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 clams, Softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, American oysters, Iceland scallops, Purple-hinge rock scallop, sea scallops) for recreational or commercial purposes effective 1200 hours (noon) on Tuesday May 3, 2022 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 other 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-2021-006 has been repealed effective 1200 hours (noon) on May 3, 2022.

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 Wednesday April 20, 2022. This includes personal use and licence 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 Wednesday at 0600 hours on April 20, 2022.

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

Additionally, all Commercial and Personal Use Sealers are reminded that landings must be hailed in daily, as per licence 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: beverlypiccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening and declassification* of portions of St. Lunaire Bay for the harvesting of all molluscan bivalve shellfish for recreational and commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1800 hours Thursday, March 10, 2022:

Those waters of St. Lunaire Bay that are inside a line drawn from White Dog Point (51.49054 N 55.45900 W) to Persil Cove, South Point (51.46953 N, long 55.47050 W) with the exception of those waters St. Lunaire Bay that remain closed for recreational or commercial purposes as follows:

• That portion of Northwest Bay inside a line connecting the following points: 51.49994 N 55.52749 W, and 51.49721 N 55.53168 W;

• That portion of Northwest Bay inside a line connecting the following points: 51.49318 N 55.52683 W, and 51.49004 N 55.52127 W;

• That portion of St. Lunaire Bay inside a line connecting the following points:51.48538 N 55.50704 W, and 51.47969 N 55.50780 W;

• That portion of Southwest Bay bounded by the shoreline and a series of straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 51.47885 N 55.49718 W, to a point at 51.48491 N 55.47784 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 51.48112 N 55.47853 W, to a point at 51.47897 N 55.47868 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 51.47371 N 55.47705 W, to a point at 51.47322 N 55.47914 W, then along the shoreline back to the point of commencement.

All other current molluscan bi-valve shellfish closures for White Bay and Green Bay will remain closed for recreational or commercial purposes including the following areas:

• That portion of Southwest Bay bounded by the shoreline and a series of straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 51.53752 N 55.46529 W, to a point at 51.53795 N 55.46385 W, to a point at 51.53813 N 55.46033 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 51.52390 N 55.46037 W, to a point at 51.52379 N 55.46082 W, then along the shoreline back to the point of commencement;

• That portion of Ariege Bay (Belvy bay) bounded by the shoreline and a series of straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed: 51.19536 N 56.00695 W, to a point at 51.19121 N 55.98351 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 51.17278 N 55.98696 W, to a point at 51.17105 N 55.98893 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 51.16959 N 55.99101 W, to a point at 51.16981 N 55.99788 W, then along the shoreline to a point at 51.17348 N 56.02098 W, to a point at 51.17429 N 56.02169 W, then along the shoreline back to the point of commencement;

• That portion of Chimney Bay inside a line connecting the following points: 50.84570 N 56.13780 W, to a point at 50.84479 N 56.13898 W, to a point at 50.84392 N 56.15561 W, to a point at 50.84298 N 56.15613 W;

• That portion of Middle Arm inside a line connecting the following points: 49.89757 N 56.46078 W, and 49.89798 N 56.44915 W;

• That portion of Fleur de Lys Harbour inside a line connecting the following points: 50.11698 N 56.12353 W, and 50.11533 N 56.12780 W;

• That portion of Northwest Bay inside a line connecting the following points: 51.56002 N 55.47411 W, and 51.55929 N 55.47909 W.

The closures noted above apply to the following molluscan bivalve shellfish: 

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, northern moon snails, waved whelks, Stimpson's whelks, except sea scallops.

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 NTN-2001-003 has been repealed and Prohibition Orders NTN-2022-005, NTN-2022-006, NTN-2022-008, NTN-2022-009, NTN-2022-010 and NTN-2022-011 comes into effect on 1800 hours Thursday, March 10, 2022.

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

*The purpose of this re-opening is to declassify the water, which consists of removing a classification assigned to a shellfish sector, and will ensure that the sector becomes unclassified and is therefore no longer subject to CSSP controls such as monitoring. Since this declassified area will no longer be monitored, shellfish should not be harvested from this area for human consumption.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (including Arctic wedge clams, Softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, American oysters, Iceland scallops, Purple-hinge rock scallop, sea scallops) for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1200 hours (noon) on Monday, February 28, 2022:

East Coast of Newfoundland: from Bald Head (east of Little Heart's Ease) in Trinity Bay at coordinate 47.990310,-53.635224, east to Brigus Head (near Brigus South / Cape Broyle) at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691.

and

South and East Coast of Newfoundland: from Friar Head in Fortune Bay at coordinate 47.5853, -55.0787 east to Brigus Head near South Brigus/ Cape Broyle at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691.

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 Orders NSN-2022-002 and NSN-2022-004 have been repealed effective 1200 hours (noon) Monday, February 28, 2022.

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 closure for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge clams, Softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, American oysters, Iceland scallops, Purple-hinge rock scallop (excluding sea scallop) for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1200 hours (noon) on February 24, 2022:

From Friar Head in Fortune Bay at coordinate 47.5853, -55.0787 east to Brigus Head near South Brigus/ Cape Broyle at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691 BUT excluding those waters of Big South West Arm in Merasheen Island.

Note: This closure is an update of the February 7, 2022 closure for this area to re-open only the waters of Big South West Arm in Merasheen Island.  The closure for the remaining area between Friar Head and Brigus Head is still in effect as noted above.

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 Orders NSN-2022-001 is revoked and NSN-2022-004 comes into effect at 1200 hours on February 24, 2022.

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)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closure for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge clams, Softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, American oysters, Iceland scallops, Purple-hinge rock scallop (excluding sea scallop) for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1200 hours (noon) on February 21, 2022: 

West Coast of Newfoundland: from La Fontaine Point (north of Daniel's Harbour) at coordinate 50.476347,-57.475002, south to Robinsons Head (near Robinsons) at coordinate 48.261007, -58.809454. 

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-2022-003 comes into effect at 1200 hours (noon) on February 21, 2022. 

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 that virtual 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 Department would also like to take the opportunity to discuss recent changes to various licensing processes and to seek input on the Vessel Length/Replacement policy. 

The proposed agenda is as follows: 

1.    Introduction. 

2.    Licencing requests, NOLS and service standards. 

3.    Vessel Length/Replacement Policy  

4.    Inshore Regulations.   

5.    Open Agenda. 

There will be additional meetings for Fish Harvesters in other NAFO areas and more information will be released in the near future.

Meeting: Participants from Labrador - February 22, 2022: 

7pm-9pm Atlantic time zone

7:30pm-9:30pm Newfoundland time zone

Join Zoom Meeting

or by dialing any of the Canadian numbers below and entering the meeting ID and passcode provided:

        +1 647 374 4685 Canada

        +1 647 558 0588 Canada

        +1 778 907 2071 Canada

        +1 204 272 7920 Canada

        +1 438 809 7799 Canada

        +1 587 328 1099 Canada

Meeting ID: 949 2028 2591        Passcode: 298374

"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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Molluscan Shellfish Harvesting Emergency Closures due to Significant Rainfall - East and South Coast of Newfoundland

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closure for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge clams, Softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, American oysters, Iceland scallops, Purple-hinge rock scallop (excluding sea scallop) for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1200 hours on February 7, 2022:

East Coast of Newfoundland: from Bald Head (east of Little Heart's Ease) in Trinity Bay at coordinate 47.990310,-53.635224, east to Brigus Head (near Brigus South / Cape Broyle) at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691. 

and

South and East Coast of Newfoundland: from Friar Head in Fortune Bay at coordinate 47.5853, -55.0787 east to Brigus Head near South Brigus/ Cape Broyle at coordinate 47.099526, -52.867691.

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 Orders NSN-2022-001 and NSN-2022-002 comes into effect at 1200 hours on February 7, 2022.

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)