NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises that new temporary licences are available for the Sea urchin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. Independent Core Enterprise holders and Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous groups are eligible to apply.
 
Temporary licences are available in the following Sea Urchin Fishing Areas:
NAFO Division 2J – Area 2
NAFO Division 3K – Area 3
NAFO Division 3L – Areas 7, 8, and 9
NAFO Sub-Division 3Ps – Areas 10 and 11
NAFO Sub-Division 3Pn – Area 12
NAFO Division 4R – Areas 13 and 14

Application & Draw Process: 
Eligible licence holders interested in applying for a temporary licence must submit an expression of interest application by 1700 hours, September 30, 2026. If the number of eligible applications exceeds the number of available temporary licences for each Sea Urchin Fishing Area, DFO will conduct a random draw to select recipients and establish an eligibility list. Only eligible applicants will be entered into the draw. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be eligible.

To submit an Expression of Interest, please email  Terri.Healey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
And include the following information in your email:
Name:
FIN:
Address:
Phone #:
E-mail address:
VRN#:
Selected Area: (Must be the area of your homeport). 

A valid e-mail address must be provided, as all future correspondence will be issued through email.
 
Harvesters who previously held a Sea Urchin temporary licence and had recorded landings from the 2020 to 2025 fishing seasons do not need to reapply. Their names will automatically be included in the 2026 temporary licence process.

Those who receive a temporary licence will be required to demonstrate landings within the first two years (2026 and 2027), after which they will have their licences extended for three additional years to 2030. Those who do not meet landing requirements will not have their licence renewed, and that licence  will be offered to the next harvester on the eligibility list.

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.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will re-open the competitive, personal-use Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador Mackerel Fishing Areas 1 through 14 at 0600 hours on October 03, 2026. 

This opening will provide access to the remaining 466.67 tonnes allocated to the mackerel bait fishery for the 2026 season, representing the third and final portion of this fishery announced by the Department on July 3, 2026.

Participating harvesters will be restricted to a daily limit of 454 kg (1,000 lbs) to be fished by either gillnet or handline. Monitoring will be achieved using various measures, including a 100% hail-in requirement in all regions.

Additional information related to conditions of licence, will be available through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2026-146 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-173 will come into force on September 23, 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 advises that the Herring fixed gear fishery (gillnets) in Herring Fishing Area 13 will open at 0600 hours September 17, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-170 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-172 comes into effect on September 17, 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 advises that the Bluefin Tuna fishery in NAFO Divisions 3KLNOP will open by permit only at 0600 hours on September 18, 2026 for vessels with 2026 Bluefin tuna tag numbers: 263509, 263510, 263825, 263529, 263531, 263663, 263665, 263851, 263853, 263553, 263854, 263696, 263693, 263839, 263841, 262631, 263655, 263575, 263576, 263569, 263694, 263601, 263515, 263517, 263518, 263695, 263816.

Licence conditions will be available through DFO’s National Online Licensing System (NOLS) for those harvesters who have been contacted.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-164 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-171 comes into effect on September 17, 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 advises that the Fixed Gear (Bar/Tuck Seine) Herring fishery will open on September 15, 2026 at 0600 hours in White Bay (Herring Fishing Area 3).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-167 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-170 comes into effect on September 15, 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 would like to advise 3KL-based harvesters who selected the fall-only option for the inshore 2J3KL Northern cod fishery of an error in the conditions of licence released yesterday. Amended conditions will be available soon on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

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 3Ps scallop harvesters that the portion of Scallop Fishing Area 11 North of 47°00’N will open on September 15, 2026, and close on December 31, 2026.

Please consult your licence conditions for further information.

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 the inshore 2J3KL Northern cod fishery will open on September 13, 2026, at 0600 hours for 3KL-based harvesters who selected the fall-only option (vessel class A296) and will close on April 14, 2027, or until the fleet allocation is taken.

Approximately 9,300 tonnes remain of the 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear allocation.

Conditions of licence will be available soon on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

Harvesters are reminded that fishing gear cannot be set prior to the season opening and to ensure that weekly or bi-weekly landing limits are not exceeded by setting only the amount of fishing gear that is necessary.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-165 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-169 will come into effect on September 10, 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 advises that new licence conditions for the fall season will be required for all 2J-based and 3KL-based inshore fixed-gear harvesters of the Northern cod fishery. The fall season will commence on September 13, 2026.

Licence conditions will be available soon on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

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 the Atlantic Halibut hook and line (long line) fishery in NAFO Divisions 4RST, for fixed gear vessels less than 65 feet based in Western NL and Southern Labrador that elected to fish in Period 3, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, September 7, 2026. This fishery is open to Vessel class A289 and will close at 2000 hours on September 27, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-166 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-168 will come into force on September 5, 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.