Entries

DFO advises that the Witch Flounder (Greysole) fishery for Danish Seine vessels less than 65 feet will close in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps, at 2000 hours on Thursday March 31, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2021-298 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-012 comes into effect on March 29, 2022.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 portion of Scallop Fishing Area 10 (Placentia Bay), inside a line drawn from Point Verde (47 14.33" N, 54 00.94"W) on the east side of the bay, to Red Harbour (47 16.59"N, 54 58.58"w) on the west side, Inner Bay, will close 2000 March 31, 2022 and will reopen 0600 hours September 1, 2022 in line with the management plan for that fishery.

"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 the Unit 2 Redfish Fishery in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will close for all fleets at 23:59 hours on March 31, 2022.

This spawning closure is a scheduled closure and is consistent with the Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for this fishery.

Fish harvesters are reminded that all fishing gear must be removed from the water prior to the closure

DFO advises that the 3Ps Greenland Halibut (Turbot) fishery for vessels less than and greater than 65' using gillnets and hook and line gear, will close at 2400 hours on Thursday, March 31, 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 Inshore fixed-gear fishery for White Hake in NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps will close in sub-divisions (a),(b),(d),(e),(f),(g) and (h) at 2000 hours Thursday March 31, 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

In 2022, all commercial fisheries in Canada have a new condition of licence relating to the discharge of garbage from Canadian fishing vessels. This condition is authorized under the Fisheries Act and reads as follows:

The licence holder/operator is prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters from their vessel any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat including but not limited to plastics, ropes, fishing gear, garbage bags, fuel, oil, rags, glass, bottles, metal, extruded polystyrene foam (e.g. Styrofoam), and tires.

This new condition of licence demonstrates Canada's further support for the global recognition of the ecological harm caused by marine pollution; specifically marine plastics. This aligns with the prohibition on the discard of garbage into the ocean pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex V, which prohibits the discharge of garbage into the sea from ships.

DFO reminds harvesters that the following Marine Conservation Areas remain closed:

Funk Island Deep Closure

Hatton Basin Conservation Area

Hawke Channel Closure

Hopedale Saddle Closure

Division 3O Coral Closure

Northeast Newfoundland Slope Closure

These areas are closed to various vessel classes and fishing gear. 

More information on the details of these conservation measures can be found at:

(English) Canada’s marine protected and conserved areas

(French)  Aires marines protégées et conservées du Canada

DFO advises that the herring fishery for vessels using Barr Seine (tuck) in Fortune Bay, Herring Fishing Area 11, east of Pass Island, will open at 0600 hours on Sunday, March 20, 2022.

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

Please Note: Fishery may close on short notice if available quota is taken; if not this fishery will close on schedule at the end of the current Management Cycle March 31 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-008 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-010 comes into effect on March 17, 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

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 1400 hours on Monday, March 14, 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.

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-2022-003 has been repealed effective 1400 hours Monday, March 14 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 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.