Entries

Fish harvesters are invited to participate in upcoming in-person engagement sessions on the development of the Canadian Ghost Gear Action Plan. These sessions will provide an opportunity to contribute meaningful input into the Action Plan’s development. Participation from fish harvesters is essential to ensure that any measures considered for implementation are both practical and effective.

March 17, 2026 9:00–11:00 a.m.  Motel Deer Lake, Deer Lake 
March 17, 2026 3:00–5:00 p.m.  Mount Peyton Hotel, Grand Falls-Windsor    
March 18, 2026 1:00–3:00 p.m.  Clarenville Inn, Clarenville 
March 19, 2026 1:00–3:00 p.m.  Hampton Inn & Suites, St. John's        
            
For more information or to register for these sessions, please contact DFO.GGNLRegion-EFRegiondeTNL.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Please indicate which session you would like to attend.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@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 March 1, 2026.

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

Re-opening dates for the 2026 season for these Seal fisheries, in both the Gulf and on the Front, will be announced at a later date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-036 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-014 comes into effect on February 24, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise Area 3K and 3L Inshore snow crab harvesters that the 2026 buddy-up application is available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).
 
PLEASE NOTE: COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE NATIONAL ONLINE LICENCING SYSTEM.  APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise inshore crab harvesters in Crab Fishing Areas 3B (White Bay) and 3C (Green Bay) in NAFO Division 3K that applications for CFA 3BC are now available.

Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center by phone or e-mail. Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Applications must be returned by close of business on March 6, 2026.

Return applications by email to: kelly.firmage-obrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to remind Crab Harvesters that Area Selection Applications are available for the following inshore Crab Fishing Areas 5A, 6A, and 6B. Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center or detachment office by phone or e-mail.

Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Please note: Area Selection Applications only need to be completed if you are looking to move areas.

If you do not fill out the form you will remain in the area you were licensed for in 2025.

Applications must be received by close of business day on February 20, 2026.

Applications can be returned by email to: kelly.firmage-obrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise Area 2J Inshore snow crab harvesters that the 2026 buddy-up application is available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

PLEASE NOTE: COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE NATIONAL ONLINE LICENCING SYSTEM. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise Crab Harvesters that Buddy-Up Applications are available for Crab Fishing Area 10A (Placentia Bay). Fish Harvesters can request an application through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

PLEASE NOTE: COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE NATIONAL ONLINE LICENCING SYSTEM AND RECEIVED BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS DAY MARCH 6, 2026.

Notices to Fish Harvesters for all commercial fisheries are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like to have all Notices to Fish Harvesters for commercial fisheries sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise anglers of the management approach for the 2026 Atlantic Salmon recreational fishery.

Season Dates:

Insular Newfoundland: June 1 to September 7

Labrador: June 15 to September 15

Management Measures:

Anglers will be permitted to retain a total of two salmon, with a maximum of one salmon on Class 2 rivers. The retention of salmon is not permitted on Class 0 rivers or non-scheduled waters. 

A catch and release limit of three fish per day for all scheduled rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador with the exception of Class 0 rivers. On Class 0 rivers, anglers are permitted to catch and release a maximum of two fish per day.

The continuation of a multi-faceted Environmental Protocol. Details will be outlined in the 2026-2027 Anglers’ Guide.

For additional information, refer to the Fisheries Management Decision online at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/decisions/fm-2026-gp/index-atl-eng.html.

Details on the regulations pertaining to retention limits, river classification, closed areas and special management areas are contained in the 2026-2027 Anglers’ Guide which will be available in booklet form or on-line at http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/NL/AG/anglersguide in 2026.

Notices to Anglers are available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the Mobile Gear (Purse Seine) Herring fishery will open by permit only on February 18, 2026 at 0600 hours and close on March 11, 2026 at 2200 hours in St. Mary’s Bay (Herring Fishing Area 9) and Placentia Bay (Herring Fishing Area 10).

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO's National On-line Licencing System for those harvesters who have been contacted for the above date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-012 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-013 comes into effect on February 18, 2026.

"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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to remind Crab Harvesters that Area Selection Applications are available for the following inshore Crab Fishing Areas 5A, 6A, and 6B. Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center or detachment office by phone or e-mail.

Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

Please note: Area Selection Applications only need to be completed if you are looking to move areas.

If you do not fill out the form you will remain in the area you were licensed for in 2025.

Applications must be received by close of business day on February 20, 2026.

Applications can be returned by email to: kelly.firmage-obrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

"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: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.