Skip to content

Notice to Fish Harvesters - LOBSTER FISHING OPENING IN NAFO DIVISION 3L - nf.26.069

Home
DFO Fisheries Announcements
Notice to Fish Harvesters – LOBSTER FISHING OPENING IN NAFO DIVISION 3L – nf.26.069
April 16, 2026

FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA

NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

nf.26.069B

2026-034

Apr. 16, 2026

LOBSTER FISHING OPENING IN NAFO DIVISION 3L

DFO advises of the following 3L lobster area opening and closing dates:

Note all opening times are 0600 hours and all closing times are 2000 hours.

LFA 5 (Bonavista Bay): May 8, 2026 to July 13, 2026

LFA 6 (Trinity Bay): April 27, 2026 to July 9, 2026

LFA 7 (Conception Bay): May 3, 2026 to July 8, 2026

LFA 8 (Southern Shore): May 1, 2026 to July 5, 2026

LFA 9A (Trepassey Bay): May 7, 2026 to July 4, 2026

LFA 9B (St. Mary’s Bay): April 23, 2026 to June 3, 2026

Harvesters are reminded that they are not permitted to retrieve fishing gear or possess lobsters during the initial 48 hour gear-setting period after the opening date.

Harvesters are also reminded they are permitted to harvest bait for the lobster fishery as per the conditions of their bait licence.

Licence fees and licence conditions will soon be available in the National Online Licencing System (NOLS).

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-033 has been revoked, and Variation Order 2026-034 will come into force on April 17, 2026.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: https://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/en.

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.

-30-

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
(709) 292-5167
david.small@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Latest News

Snow Crab Update April 13 9pm

Member Update – April 13

RESTORING THE RIGHT TO STRIKE: MYTH VS FACT

Fairness is EVERYTHING: Plant Workers Demand ASP Get Back to Table

CRAB NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: NO CRAB PROCESSED IN NL UNTIL FAIR PRICE

News Categories

Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.