Shellfish

DFO wishes to advise inshore crab harvesters in Crab Fishing Areas 3B (White Bay) and 3C (Green Bay) in NAFO Division 3K that applications for CFA 3BC are now available.

Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center by phone or e-mail. Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

Applications must be returned to the Area Office by close of business on March 17, 2023.

Applications can be returned to the following address:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
4A Bayley Street Suite 200
Grand Falls-Windsor A2A 2T5
or faxed to: 709-292-5205
or e-mailed to: claudine.strickland@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region 

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: Danielle.Nichols@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 Saturday, January 28, 2023 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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-250 has been revoked and Variation Order 2023-007 comes into effect on January 28, 2023.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO wishes to advise Crab Harvesters that Area Selection Applications are available for the following inshore Crab Fishing Areas 5A, 6A, and 6B. Harvesters can obtain an application by contacting the area licencing center or detachment office by phone or e-mail.

Applications can also be requested from the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

Please note: Area Selection Applications only need to be completed if you are looking to move areas. If you do not fill out the form you will remain in the area you were licensed for in 2022. Applications must be received by close of business day on February 24, 2023.

Applications can be returned to the following address:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Client Services Centre – Eastern & Central
Attn: Terri Healey
PO Box 5667
St. John's, NL A1C 5X1
E-mail: Terri.Healey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
FAX # 709-772-5634

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: Danielle.Nichols@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be holding Lobster advisory meetings to allow Lobster harvesters an opportunity to discuss management measures for the 2023-2025 Lobster seasons. The advisories will take place in January, as listed below.

NAFO Divisions 4R3Pn

Corner Brook, Greenwood Inn & Suites, Monday, January 9, 2023 at 12 p.m. (noon) 

NAFO Divisions 3K

Grand Falls, Mount Peyton Hotel, Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 9:00 A.M.

NAFO Division 3Ps

Clarenville, Quality Hotel, Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10:00 A.M.

NAFO Divisions 3L

Clarenville, Quality Hotel, Friday, January 13, 2023 at 9:00 A.M.

DFO advises that the Squid, Whelk and Toad Crab fisheries in Fishing Areas 1 to 14, NAFO Divisions 2GHJ, 3KL, 3Ps, and 4R, as well as the 3Ps Sea Cucumber will close on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 2359 hours.

The Scallop fishery will also be closing on December 31, with the exception of 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, which will remain open until March 31, 2023. This is in line with the management measures for this fishery.

DFO also reminds harvesters that the Snow crab fishery and lobster fishery are closed for all fishing areas.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2022-093, 2022-105, 2022-144, 2022-146 and 2022-233 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2022-246, 2022-247, 2022-248, 2022-250 and 2022-256 comes into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2022.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises commercial Scallop fish harvesters in Scallop Fishing Area 11 of a new closed area extending from English Harbour East to Pass Island Tickle in water depths less than 30 fathoms. This area will be closed as of 2000 hours Tuesday November 15, 2022.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2022-189 has been revoked and Variation Order 2022-233 comes into effect at 1700 hours on November 15, 2022.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO advises that the portion of Scallop Fishing Area 11 (Fortune Bay) from Dantzic Point to Point Rosie will close to commercial harvest of scallop at 2000 hours October 15, 2022.

Harvesters are reminded to submit all weekly logs for this fishery to DFO as per conditions of licence.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1300 hours on October 4, 2022:

From Grates Point at 48.172711, -52.941921 east and south to Western Point, Cape Race at 46.656144, -53.074678

more detailed information on remaining closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website:

Check Before You Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2022-215 has been repealed effective 1300 hours Tuesday, October 4, 2022.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the re-opening for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish (including Arctic wedge calms, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson's surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson's whelks) for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1400 hours September 20, 2022: 

- Those waters adjacent to the community of Robert's Arm that are inside, or west, of a line drawn from 49.50631 degrees N, 55.78014 degrees W southeast to 49.48923 degrees N, 55.76915 degrees W (WGS84).

This closure was the result of the town of Roberts Arm having to shut down and by-pass the wastewater treatment plant.  This wastewater treatment plant has resumed operations.

More detailed information on remaining closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website: Check Before you Harvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2022-214 has been repealed effective 1400 hours on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP)

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, 2022 at 0600 hrs. This is in line with the management measures for this fishery.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: Karen.Keats-Brett@dfo-mpo.gc.ca