Shellfish

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.
 

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 scallop in fishing area 13 is open. Conditions of license identify specific dates, depth and areas within fishing area 13.

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 portion of Scallop Fishing Area 10 (Placentia Bay), inside a line drawn from Point Verde (47°14.33'N, 54°00.94'W) on the east side of the bay, to Red Harbour Head (47°16.59'N, 54°58.58'W) on the west side, will open to commercial scallop fishing September 1, 2026, at 0600 hours. 

DFO reminds harvesters that DMP and hail requirements are mandatory in this fishery. This is in line with the management measures for this fishery.

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 in 3Ps will close on August 21, 2026, at 2000 hours. It is expected that the quota will be reached by then.

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 commercial squid fishery will open for jiggers and traps in Squid Fishing Areas 1 – 14 at 0600 hours on August 10, 2026.

Licence fees and licence conditions will soon be available to commercial licence holders through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2025-273 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-139 will come into effect on August 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, for the 2026 fishing season only, the portion of Scallop Fishing Area 11 at Long Harbour Fortune Bay inside Tickle Beach greater than 5 fathoms will open for commercial scallop fishing on August 14, 2026 at 0600 hours.

This is a one-year pilot that will be reviewed in consultation with stakeholders prior to next season.

Harvesters should refer to conditions of license, available in the National Online Licensing System (NOLS), for the exact fishing area coordinates and other conditions of license.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-078 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-130 will come into force on August 06, 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, for the 2026 fishing season only, the portion of Scallop Fishing Area 11 North of 47°00’N westward from McCallum (Headlands) to Burgeo (Mercer’s Point) in water depths greater than 30 fathoms, will open to commercial Iceland scallop fishing on August 14, 2026 at 0600 hours.

This is a one-year pilot that will be reviewed in consultation with stakeholders prior to next season.

Harvesters should refer to conditions of license, available in the National Online Licensing System (NOLS), for the exact fishing area coordinates and other conditions of license.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-078 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-130 will come into force on August 06, 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 commercial Scallop fishery in Area 9 (Inner St. Mary's Bay) in NAFO Division 3L will open at 0600 hours Friday, August 7, 2026 for harvesters in the following Vessel Class: C4701.

Harvesters are reminded that information returns (logbooks) are a requirement for this fishery.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-078 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-130 comes into effect on August 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) advises that the 3Ps Shrimp beam trawl fishery in the 3Ps portion of Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 7, for vessels less than 65 feet, based in NAFO sub-division 3Ps is open.

Fishing is authorized to begin once licence holders pay their licence fees and receive their licence conditions. Licence fees and licence conditions are currently being uploaded in 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.