Shellfish

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the Snow Crab fishery will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Thursday April 10, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground for the following areas:

- Outside of 8 mile
- Bay of Islands
- Bay St. George
- 12A
- 12B
- 12C
- 12D
- 12E
- 12F
- 12G
- 12H

Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 6:00 am on Thursday April 10, 2025 is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2024-308 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-027 comes into force on April 5, 2025.  

"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 advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3Ps will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Areas 10B and 11S will open at 6:00 a.m. on Monday April 7, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. 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 6:00AM on Thursday, April 10, 2025 is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 10A, 11E and 11W will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Thursday, April 10, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 6:00 am on Thursday, April 10, 2025 is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2024-308 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-027 comes into effect on April 5, 2025.  

"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 advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3LNO will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Areas NS, MS, 8B, 8Bx, 8Bx North, 8Bx South, Msex, 3Lex, 3N200, 3L200, 3NO200 will open at 6:00 a.m. on Monday April 7, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. 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 6:00 am on Thursday April 10, 2025 is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 5A, 6A, 6B, 6C, 8A and 9A will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Thursday April 10, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 6:00 am on Thursday April 10, 2025 is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2024-308 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-027 comes into effect on April 5, 2025.  

"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 advises that the Snow Crab fishery in 3K will open on the following dates:

Crab Management Area 4 will open at 6:00 am on Monday April 7, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. 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 6:00 am on Thursday April 10, 2025 is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 3A and 3D will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Thursday April 10, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 6:00 am on Thursday April 10, 2025 is prohibited.

Crab Management Area 3BC will open at 6:00 am on Saturday, April 12, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 24 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 6:00 am on Sunday April 13, 2025 is prohibited.

Crab Management Areas 3B and 3C will open at 12:00 am (midnight) on Sunday April 20, 2025 for the purpose of travelling to the fishing ground. Fish harvesters are reminded that they are not authorized to set Crab traps until 6 hours after the Snow Crab fishery season has opened. Therefore, any setting of Crab traps or possession of Crab before 6:00 am on Sunday April 20, 2025 is prohibited.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2024-308 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-027 comes into effect on April 5, 2025.  

"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 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