Pelagics

DFO reminds harvesters that herring fisheries in Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) 13 and 14 for fixed gear (trap and tuck seines) are open.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-072 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-081 comes into effect at 1800 hours on June 15, 2026.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 details of the 2026 management measures for the 2J3KLPs Capelin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

Capelin in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLPs 2026

Pêche du capelan dans les divisions 2J et 3KL et la sous-division 3Ps de l’OPANO 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 details of the 2026 management measures for the 2J3KLPs Capelin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

Capelin in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLPs 2026

Pêche du capelan dans les divisions 2J et 3KL et la sous-division 3Ps de l’OPANO 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 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 3, 2026:

Capelin Fishing Area 12

Capelin Fishing Area 13

Capelin Fishing Area 14 from Cape Gregory to Point Riche.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-267 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-075 comes into effect on June 3, 2026.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 purse seine fishery for mobile gear vessels, less than and greater than 65', in Capelin Fishing Areas 13 and 14 (NAFO Division 4R) will open at 0600 hours on June 3, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-268 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-074 comes into effect on June 3, 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 fish harvesters that the opening date for the 2026 NL Commercial Eel fishery in coastal waters is June 1, 2026.

Licences and conditions are available through DFO’s National Online Licensing System (NOLS), and the site location conditions must be obtained from the local DFO Area office.

The eel fishery will close on October 31, 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 herring (gillnet/trap) fisheries for White Bay, Notre Dame Bay, Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay, Conception Bay, the Southern Shore and St. Mary's Bay, (Herring Fishing Areas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) will close at 2000 hours on June 14, 2026.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-049 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-072 will come into force on May 27, 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.

As an interim management measure pending results of the 2026 Atlantic mackerel assessment on May 27th, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will release 220 tonnes of the Atlantic mackerel Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the competitive, personal-use bait fishery. 

This fishery will open on May 27, 2026 at 0600 hours. 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. Additional information related to conditions of licence, will be available through the National Online Licensing System. 

Following the stock assessment and subsequent discussions with the Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Committee, the Department will communicate the 2026 management approach for Atlantic mackerel.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Regions gives notice that Variation Order 2025-272 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-073 comes into effect on May 27, 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 details of the 2026 and 2027 management measures for the 4RST Capelin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

Fisheries Management Decision 2026 and 2027 Capelin in NAFO Divisions 4RST

Décision de gestion des pêches 2026-2027 Pêche du capelan dans les divisions 4RST de l’OPANO

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 details of the 2026 and 2027 management measures for the 4RST Capelin fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador are now available at:

Fisheries Management Decision 2026 and 2027 Capelin in NAFO Divisions 4RST

Décision de gestion des pêches 2026-2027 Pêche du capelan dans les divisions 4RST de l’OPANO

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.