Pelagics

DFO reminds harvesters in Mackerel Fishing Areas 1 -14 the personal use mackerel bait fishery will open at 0600 hours on Thursday, May 15, 2025, for the initial 220 t allocation.

Harvesters participating in this personal use bait fishery are reminded:

• they will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs) to be fished by either gillnet or handline,

• a mandatory hail-in will be required for all harvesters participating in the personal use mackerel bait fishery,

• an accurate catch estimate must be provided prior to offloading your catch and harvesters must hail a trip summary to the Fish Harvesters’ Resource Centre at 1-877-884-7359 / 1-888-562-4511,

• harvesters will be alerted of closures through a Notice to Fish Harvesters,

• bait licences will be available through the National Online Licensing System.

"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 will be releasing a total allowable catch of 440 tonnes (t) for the Atlantic Mackerel personal-use bait fishery in two equal parts. This will be a competitive fishery and the first release of 220t will open to harvesters in all four DFO regions in Atlantic Canada and Quebec on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

For the NL Region in Mackerel Fishing Areas 1 -14 the personal use mackerel bait fishery will open at 0600 hours on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Harvesters participating in this personal use bait fishery are reminded:

• they will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs) to be fished by either gillnet or handline,
• a mandatory hail-in will be required for all harvesters participating in the personal use mackerel bait fishery,
• an accurate catch estimate must be provided prior to offloading your catch and harvesters must hail a trip summary to the Fish Harvesters’ Resource Centre at 1-877-884-7359 / 1-888-562-4511,
• harvesters will be alerted of closures through a Notice to Fish Harvesters,
• bait licences will be available through the National Online Licensing System,
• the second 220t release will also be conveyed through a Notice to Fish Harvesters with an expected release date in September.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2024-317 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-050 will come into force on May 8, 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 the Minister approved management measures for the Atlantic Mackerel recreational fishery for 2025 and 2026.

Please be advised that when fishing recreationally for Atlantic Mackerel, the following management measure is in effect to support rebuilding of the stock:

1.    Reduction in the gear allowance to 1 line and 3 hooks when fishing Atlantic Mackerel recreationally. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will vary the gear allowance which prohibits recreational fishing with more than 5 lines or 1 fishing line with 6 hooks, as outlined in Section 49.01(d) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, to 1 line and 3 hooks to reduce effort in the recreational 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: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that the Minister approved management measures for the Atlantic Mackerel recreational fishery for 2025 and 2026.

Please be advised that when fishing recreationally for Atlantic Mackerel, the following management measure is in effect to limit dead discards and support rebuilding of the stock:

1.    No minimum size requirement when fishing Atlantic mackerel recreationally. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will vary the minimum size for possession of Atlantic Mackerel from 26.8 cm, as outlined in Section 49.01(b) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, to 0 cm in length. This would mean that recreational harvesters can retain any size fish caught up to their daily possession limit of 20 Mackerel without discarding large numbers of undersized fish that typically die after release.

"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 the Herring fixed gear fishery in HFA 11 from Pass Island to Cinq Cerf, will open 0600 hours Saturday, May 3, 2025, for all fixed gear types (Barr seines, gillnets and trap nets).

Fish harvesters are reminded that logbooks are mandatory in these Fixed Gear herring fisheries.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-035 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2025-045 comes into force on May 3, 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 the Fixed Gear (Bar/Tuck Seine) Herring fishery will close on Monday, April 14, 2025 at 2000 hours in Trinity Bay (Herring Fishing Area 6).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-034 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-035 comes into force at 1800 hours on April 14, 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 the Fixed Gear (Barr/Tuck Seine) Herring fishery will close on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 2300 hours in Bonavista Bay (Herring Fishing Area 5).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-031 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-034 comes into force at 1800 hours on April 13, 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 the Mobile Gear (Purse Seine) Herring fishery will open on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 0600 hours in White Bay and Notre Dame Bay (Herring Fishing Areas 3 & 4).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-029 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-032 comes into force on April 11, 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 the Fixed Gear (Barr/Tuck Seine) Herring fishery will close on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 2200 hours in Conception Bay and Southern Shore (Herring Fishing Area 7 and 8).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2025-026 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-031 comes into force at 1800 hours on April 8, 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 the mobile gear herring (purse seine) fishery for Bonavista Bay (Herring Fishing Area 5) will close at 2000 hours on Monday, April 7, 2025.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-028 has been revoked and Variation Order 2025-029 comes into force at 1600 hours on April 7, 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