Pelagics

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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2026-146 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-173 will come into force on September 23, 2026.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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-170 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-172 comes into effect on September 17, 2026.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 advises that the Herring fixed gear fishery for Gillnet and Trap will open 0600 hours September 2, 2026, for the following:

Herring Fishing Area 3 - White Bay
Herring Fishing Area 4 - Notre Dame Bay
Herring Fishing Area 5 - Bonavista Bay
Herring Fishing Area 6 - Trinity Bay
Herring Fishing Area 7 - Conception Bay
Herring Fishing Area 8 - Southern Shore
Herring Fishing Area 9 - St. Mary's Bay

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 2026-082 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-167 comes into effect September 1, 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 for all vessels will close at 2200 hours on August 29, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-102 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-164 comes into effect on August 29, 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 will be pausing the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery in all Mackerel Fishing Areas as of 12:00 PM (Atlantic Daylight Time) on August 20, 2026. This notice to stop fishing is for conservation purposes as landings are nearing the second 466.67 tonne portion of the total allowable catch (TAC).  

For harvesters with a multi-species bait licence, please refer to your conditions of licence. 

The third opening for the 2026 mackerel bait fishery is planned for early October and will be communicated separately.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, gives notice that Variation Order 2026-140 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-146 will come into force on August 20, 2026.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will open the competitive, personal-use Atlantic mackerel bait fishery on August 17, 2026 in Newfoundland and Labrador Mackerel Fishing Areas 1 through 14 at 0600 hours.

An additional opening is tentatively scheduled for early October and will be communicated separately. These openings implement the additional bait fishing access 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 2026-096 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-140 will come into force on at 0600 hours on August 17, 2026.
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises harvesters that all capelin fisheries in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region are closing on August 7, 2026 at 2200 hours.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-105 and 2026-097 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-131 and 2026-132 come into effect at 2200 hours on August 7, 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) advises harvesters that all capelin fisheries in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region are closing on August 7, 2026 at 2200 hours.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-105 and 2026-097 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-131 and 2026-132 come into effect at 2200 hours on August 7, 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.