NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

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 2, will open at 0600 hours on Monday, July 13, 2026. This fishery is open to Vessel class A288 and will close at 2000 hours on August 2, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-077 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-104 will come into force on July 11, 2026.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 Whelk fishery will open in NAFO Division 4R (fishing area 13 and 14) at 0600 hours on July 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 advises that the capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear (tuck, bar seine and trap) will open on July 10, 2026 at 0600 hours in the following areas:

• Dog Bay Point to Cape Freels (Capelin Fishing Area 4).

Harvesters are reminded that the fishery must be open for 24 hours before any Capelin can be removed from any fixed Gear.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO’s National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-101 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-103 comes into effect on July 10, 2026.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.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada advises that the inshore Shrimp fishery in NAFO division 3L portion of Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 7 will open for vessels less than 90 feet, based in NAFO Divisions 3K south and 3L, at 0600 hours on July 10, 2026.

Licence fees and licence conditions will soon be available 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.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be pausing the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in all Mackerel Fishing Areas as of 12:00 PM on July 8, 2026. This notice to stop fishing is for conservation purposes as landings have surpassed the first 466.67 tonne portion of the total allowable catch (TAC).  

The second 466.67 tonnes for the Atlantic mackerel personal-use bait fishery is scheduled to be released in August with the exact date to be communicated in the coming weeks. For harvesters with a multi-species bait licence, please refer to your conditions of licence. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2026-073 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-096 will come into force at 1100 hours on July 8, 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 Bluefin tuna fishery for vessels fishing homewaters in NAFO Divisions 3KLNOP will open at 0600 hours on July 9, 2026.

Licence conditions will be available prior to opening on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). Observer coverage must be paid prior to tag purchase.

Tuna tags and forms are available at DFO Detachment offices in Bay Roberts, Clarenville and Marystown.

Bluefin tuna harvesters are encouraged to return tuna heads to one of the locations listed in the Conservation Harvesting Plan and record the tag number.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-269 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-102 comes into effect on July 08, 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 capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear (tuck, bar seine and trap) will open on July 6, 2026 at 0600 hours in the following area:

Cape St John to North Head (Capelin Fishing Area 4)

Harvesters are reminded that the fishery must be open for 24 hours before any Capelin can be removed from any fixed gear.

Licence conditions can be obtained through DFO's National On-line Licencing System.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-090 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-101 comes into effect on July 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.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – July 3, 2026 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada increases Total Allowable Catch for Atlantic mackerel and Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence fall herring fishery  - Canada.ca. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has increased the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Atlantic mackerel to 1,500 tonnes (t), replacing the previous decision that set a 500t TAC in 2025 and 2026. This TAC includes 1,400t for the personal-use bait fishery, 60t for bycatch and 20t each to support scientific sampling and live bait for the bluefin tuna fishery.

Along with the increase in TAC, DFO is setting three fishery openings for Atlantic mackerel bait fishery: May 27 (already open), and two additional openings tentatively scheduled for August, and October. A total of 466.67t will be released on each opening date. As 220t were previously released on May 27, an additional 246.67t is being released immediately. 

Please be advised the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery is a competitive fishery and is intended for personal-use only. Eligible fish harvesters participating in this fishery 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. For additional information please refer to your conditions of licence.
 

DFO advises that the Winter flounder (Blackback) fishery in NAFO Divisions 3KL will open at 0600 hours on July 5, 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 Snow Crab season for all areas in Crab Fishing Areas 10 (10A, 10B) and 11 (11E, 11S, 11W) in NAFO sub-Division 3Ps, will be extended to 2000 hours on July 14, 2026.

Harvesters in CFA 11E (including the area known as Bob's Rock) are advised that landings are currently being assessed and over 90% of the quota has been landed to date. As the harvesting amount is approaching the maximum allowable catch for this area, a short notice for a closure may be possible prior to the closing date.

All gear must be removed from the water by closing time. The Department prioritizes safety at sea and if a harvester is unable to retrieve their gear by the close time due to safety, they are advised to contact their local C&P detachment.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-089 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-099 will come into force on  July 4, 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.