Entries

DFO advises that the herring fishery for fishing vessels using gillnets and trap nets in Herring Fishing Area 11 from Pass Island to Cinq Cerf will open at 0600 hours on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Please note that the Barr Seine fishery for this area is not open.

Fish harvesters are advised that dockside monitoring is a requirement in this fishery. 

Licence conditions are available through the National Online Licencing System.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-022 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-037 comes into effect on April 23, 2022.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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises 3Ps scallop harvesters that the Scallop Fishing Area 10 (Placentia Bay) and Scallop Fishing Area 11 (Fortune Bay) will open to the >40' fleet at 0600 hours on April 23, 2022.

Fish harvesters are reminded that fishing is not permitted in the middle bed, southern bed, Core Area and the North Bed. These areas are defined in your licence conditions.

The Core Area (Iceland scallop) and North Bed (Sea scallop) fisheries will open at a later date. Permits are required to fish these areas when open.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-003 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-036 comes into effect on April 23, 2022.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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises of the following 3L lobster area opening and closing dates:

Note all opening times are 0600 hours and all closing times are 2000 hours.

- LFA 5 (Bonavista Bay): May 8, 2022 to July 13, 2022

- LFA 6 (Trinity Bay): April 25, 2022 to July 7, 2022

- LFA 7 (Conception Bay): April 30, 2022 to July 5, 2022

- LFA 8 (Southern Shore): May 9, 2022 to July 13, 2022

- LFA 9A (Trepassey Bay): April 28, 2022 to June 25, 2022

- LFA 9B (St. Mary’s Bay): April 28, 2022 to July 1, 2022

Harvesters are reminded that they are not permitted to retrieve fishing gear or possess lobsters during the initial 48 hour gear-setting period after the opening date.

Harvesters are also reminded they are permitted to harvest bait for the lobster fishery as per the conditions of their bait licence.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-032 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-035 comes into effect on April 22, 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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that at the request of industry, Crab Fishing Area 3C will NOT open on April 24, 2022 as previously announced. Harvesters should continue to monitor Notice to Fishers for further information regarding the opening date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-029 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-034 comes into effect on April 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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that Unit 1 Redfish in NAFO subdivision 3Pn will open for vessel class D180 at 1700 hours on April 19, 2022, and close to this vessel class at 2400 hours on May 14, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2021-307 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-033 comes into effect at 1700 hours on April 19, 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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that Lobster Fishing Area 12 will open at 0600 hours on April 21, 2022 and close at 2000 hours on June 30, 2022.

Harvesters are reminded that they are not permitted to retrieve fishing gear or possess lobsters during the initial 48 hour gear-setting period after the opening date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2022-031 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-032 comes into effect on April 20, 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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises fish harvesters that the Snow crab fishery in Crab Fishing Area 11 East will close at 2000 hours on Saturday April 16, 2022 as the quota has been taken.

All gear must be removed from the water by closing time.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-026 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-029 comes into effect on April 15, 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: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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

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

REBUILDING KEY FORAGE FISH STOCKS FOR HEALTHIER EAST COAST FISHERIES

On March 30, 2022, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Joyce Murray, announced there would be no directed commercial or bait fishing for southern Gulf spring herring and a closure of the Atlantic mackerel commercial and bait fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

In connection with this announcement, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) would like to remind the industry, and in particular, current and potential southern Gulf spring herring and Atlantic mackerel inshore licences holders, that it is their responsibility to take into consideration the closures and any impact these might have in their fishing activities and on all requests made to DFO.  It is also the industry’s responsibility to inform all third parties involved in their  fishing activities that could be impacted by this decision.  

Fishers are also reminded that as a result of decisions made under the authority of the Fisheries Act,  licences may not be issued or fisheries may be closed from time to time for conservation reasons. In these circumstances, fishers must assume the risk associated with business decisions such as licence reissuance requests.

Given the closure in place in the Atlantic mackerel fishery, fish harvesters holding licences that are only for commercial or bait Atlantic mackerel fishing are not required to renew their licenses to maintain eligibility as long as the fishery remains closed for conservation reasons, as provided by the current commercial fisheries licensing policy for eastern Canada.

For southern Gulf spring herring, licences will require renewal to access the fall fishery as both species are accessible through the same licence. 

We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight that DFO will take the necessary steps and notify affected licence holders about any refund to which they may be entitled.

For more information, you can contact one of DFO’s regional licensing offices.