Pelagics

Fixed Gear Capelin Fishery Opening in Bonavista Bay and Conception Bay

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises that the capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear (tuck, bar seine and trap) will open on June 29, 2026 at 0600 hours in Bonavista Bay and Conception Bay (Capelin Fishing Areas 5 and 7).

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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-088 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-090 comes into effect on June 29, 2026.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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.161
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Kelly Firmage-O'Brien
Area Fisheries Manager
Tel.: (709) 685-0344
Email: Kelly.Firmage-OBrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  
 

Fixed Gear Capelin Fishery Opening in Trinity Bay

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises that the capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear (tuck, bar seine and trap) will open on June 30, 2026 at 0600 hours in Trinity Bay (Capelin Fishing Area 6).

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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-088 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-090 comes into effect on June 29, 2026.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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.160
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Kelly Firmage-O'Brien
Area Fisheries Manager
Tel.: (709) 685-0344
Email: Kelly.Firmage-OBrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  

Mobile Gear Capelin Fishery Opening in Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay and Conception Bay

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises that the Capelin fishery for vessels using mobile gear will open on June 30, 2026 at 0600 hours in Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay and Conception Bay (Capelin Fishing Areas 5, 6 and 7).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2026-074 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-091 comes into effect on June 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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.162
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Kelly Firmage-O'Brien
Area Fisheries Manager
Tel.: (709) 685-0344
Email: Kelly.Firmage-OBrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  

CAPELIN FIXED GEAR FISHERY OPENING IN PORTION OF AREA 14

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises that the Capelin fixed gear fishery using traps and bar seine (including modified bar seine known as "tuck seine"), for the large vessel fleet (less than 65 feet (19.8m)) in the following area will open at 0600 hours on June 25, 2026:

Capelin Fishing Area 14 from the Quebec/Labrador border, north to Cape Charles.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-085 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-088 comes into effect on June 25, 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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.155
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Laurie Hawkins
Resource Management
Tel: 709-649-3549
Email: laurie.hawkins@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fixed Gear Capelin Fishery Opening for Portion of the Southern Shore (Capelin Fishing Area 8C)

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises that the capelin fishery for vessels using fixed gear will open on June 23, 2026 at 0600 hours in that portion of Capelin Fishing Area 8 (Southern Shore) in the following area:

Cape Neddick and Cape Pine

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 2026-083 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-085 comes into effect on June 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 National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.149
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Kelly Firmage-O'Brien
Area Fisheries Manager
Tel.: (709) 685-0344
Email: Kelly.Firmage-OBrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Buddy-up Applications Available for Capelin Harvesters in a Portion of 3K

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO wishes to advise fixed gear capelin license holders with homeports in Green Bay and the portion of White Bay from Hampden to Cape John that the 2026 buddy-up applications are 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 2026 CAPELIN 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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.148
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Kelly Firmage-O’Brien
Area Fisheries Manager
Tel.: (709) 685-0344
Email: Kelly.Firmage-OBrien@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

David Small
Senior Area Fisheries Manager
Tel.: (709) 292-5167
Email: david.small@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

CAPELIN FIXED GEAR FISHERY OPENING IN PORTION OF AREA 14

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises that the Capelin fixed gear fishery using traps and bar seine (including modified bar seine known as "tuck seine"), for the large vessel fleet (less than 65 feet (19.8m)) in the following areas will open at 0600 hours on June 19, 2026:

Capelin Fishing Area 14:
Ingornachiox Bay and Hawkes Bay
Point Riche to Big Brook
Big Brook to Cape Bauld 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-075 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-083 comes into effect on June 19, 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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.144
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Erin Dunne
Resource Manager - Pelagic Fisheries
Tel.: (709) 725-4582
E-mail: erin.dunne@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Opening Dates for Commercial Eel Fishery in Inland Waters

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises fish harvesters that the opening date for the commercial eel fishery in inland waters using eel pots is July 1, 2026.

The season will open to fyke nets on August 15, 2026.

The eel fishery for all gear types will close on October 31, 2026.

Fish harvesters are reminded that closures due to environmental conditions on scheduled salmon rivers will result in closure of the eel fishery on these rivers. During the closures, fish harvesters will be permitted to leave the fyke nets in the rivers. However, the bag on the end of the net must be removed to permit the escapement of salmonids and eels.

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
 

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.143
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Beth Ann Hawco
Senior Resource Manager 
Resource Management and Indigenous Fisheries
Tel : 709-765-1566
Email: bethann.hawco@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
 

HERRING FIXED GEAR FISHERY CLOSING IN AREA 13

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO advises that the Herring fixed gear fishery (trap, gillnet, bar seine - including modified bar seine known as "tuck seine") in all of Herring Fishing Area 13 will close at 1200 hours June 17, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-081 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-082 comes into effect at 1700 hours on June 16, 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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.142
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Laurie Hawkins
Resource Management
Tel: 709-649-3549
Email: laurie.hawkins@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

HERRING FIXED GEAR FISHERY CLOSING IN PORTIONS OF AREA 14

Notice Group Term
Species Term
Notice description

DFO reminds harvesters that the Herring fixed gear fishery (gillnet, trap, bar seine, including tuck seine) in portions of Herring Fishing Area 14 (Cape St. Gregory to Cape Bauld) will close at 2000 hours June 16, 2026 and will re-open on August 1, 2026 at 0001 hours.

The portions of Herring Fishing Area 14 that will be closed are:
-    Ingornachoix Bay and Hawkes Bay, inside a straight line drawn from Spirity Point to the French shore site.
-    Castor's Harbour, inside a straight line drawn from Castor Point to Long Point.
-    Ste. Geneveive Bay and St. Barbe Bay inside a straight line drawn from Cape Ste. Geneveive to Anchor Point.
-    The area inside a straight line drawn from The Arches to Cliffy Point, and the area within one nautical mile seaward of that line.
-    Bonne Bay inside a straight line drawn from Western Head to Lobster Cove Point.

These closures are for the protection of migrating salmon.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-081 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-082 comes into effect at 1700 hours on June 16, 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.

Issue Date
Notice Number
nf.26.141
Notice Year
2026
For information, contact:

Laurie Hawkins
Resource Management
Tel: 709-649-3549
Email: laurie.hawkins@dfo-mpo.gc.ca