Marine Mammals

DFO advises Newfoundland and Labrador seal harvesters that the seal fishery for Ringed Seals will reopen in Sealing Area 4 at 0600 hours on Thursday April 20, 2023. This includes personal use and license 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 Thursday at 0600 hours on April 20, 2023.

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

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

DFO advises fish harvesters that the details of the 2023 fisheries management measures to protect North Atlantic right whales (NARW), as announced by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on March 28, 2023, are available online at: Fishery notices related to North Atlantic right whales

"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: danielle.nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises Newfoundland and Labrador Seal harvesters that the Commercial and Personal Use Seal fishery will re-open in Sealing Areas 4 to 23 and Sealing Areas 25 to 27 at 0600 hours on April 6, 2023.

Commercial Seal harvesters based in the Front have access to the Gulf and commercial Seal harvesters based in the Gulf have access to the Front.

Commercial Seal harvesters are advised to check with their buyers to confirm a market for their Seals before going Sealing.

Seal harvesters are reminded 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.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2023-235 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-014 is in effect as of March 29, 2023.

"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: danielle.nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that both the Commercial fishery and Personal Use fishery for Harp seals and Hooded seals will close in all areas to all seal harvesters and all fleets based in Newfoundland and Labrador at 1800 hours on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

This is the annual closure to allow time for Seal whelping and nursing.

Re-opening dates for the 2023 season for these Seal fisheries, in both the Gulf and on the Front, will be announced at a later date.

"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: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO wishes to advise Newfoundland and Labrador sealers that the 2022/23 seal harvest will remain open until further notice.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2022-020 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-235 comes into effect at 2359 hours on December 31.

"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

Newfoundland and Labrador Region  - December 1, 2022

Fisheries and Oceans Canada announces that the timeline for harvesters to implement lower breaking strength gear modification requirements in non-tended fixed gear, trap and pot commercial fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec is extended to 2024.

Canada is committed to protecting North Atlantic right whales and supporting their recovery. We continue to prioritize measures to prevent entanglements of North Atlantic right whales in fishing gear, closing areas to fishing when and where right whales are detected, and removing lost, abandoned and discarded fishing gear. The Department is reviewing available information to ensure that lower breaking strength fishing gear is safe, effective at protecting whales, and readily available. This is important for supporting harvesters as they transition successfully to equipment that better protects endangered whales.

The Department will continue its support for various whalesafe gear trials in relevant fisheries with a particular focus on ropeless and rope-on-demand gear, and its engagement with industry, other stakeholders and Indigenous partners. During 2023, the Department will announce further details regarding measures to protect North Atlantic right whales in Canadian fisheries, including the approach to implement appropriate whalesafe gear requirements over time. 

For more information:

Whalesafe Fishing Gear: Whalesafe fishing gear 

North Atlantic right whale protection measures: North Atlantic right whale

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, a North Atlantic right whale was sighted swimming near Cape Spear, NL.

Based on the information available, no temporary measures will be implemented at this time. However, harvesters should be on alert while in this area.

The Government of Canada is undertaking extensive surveillance of many areas of Atlantic Canadian waters where North Atlantic right whales may be present.

To view this sighting and future sightings, please follow the link below.

For additional information: Regular updates and sightings maps will be posted at the following address: Whale Insight - An interactive map of North Atlantic right whale detections in Canada

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

DFO reminds Newfoundland and Labrador Seal harvesters that the seal fishery re-opened in Sealing Areas 4 to 23 and Sealing Areas 25 to 27 at 0600 hours on April 8, 2022.

The fishery is open for Front Longliners, Areas 5 to 8 Small Boats and Speed Boats, all Area 4 vessels and for Gulf Longliners, Gulf Small Boats, Gulf Speed Boats as well as Personal Use. This includes License Classes N100 to N106, N200 to N204, N300 to N302, and N400-N401.  Seal harvesters having a homeport located between Big Brook to Noddy Bay inclusive, operating from vessels less than 40 feet, License Classes N203 and N204, that a portion of Sealing Area 5 also opened for Seals at 0600 hours on April 8, 2022.

Commercial Seal harvesters based in the Front have access to the Gulf and commercial Seal harvesters based in the Gulf have access to the Front.

"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