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Notice to Fish Harvesters - LOBSTER FISHING OPENINGS IN NAFO DIVISION 3K - nf.26.068

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Notice to Fish Harvesters – LOBSTER FISHING OPENINGS IN NAFO DIVISION 3K – nf.26.068
April 16, 2026

FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA

NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

nf.26.068B

2026-034

Apr. 16, 2026

LOBSTER FISHING OPENINGS IN NAFO DIVISION 3K

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

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

LFA 3 (White Bay): May 12, 2026 to July 15, 2026

LFA 4A (Notre Dame Bay West): May 16, 2026 to July 11, 2026

LFA 4B (Notre Dame Bay East): May 9, 2026 to July 4, 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General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-033 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-034 will come into force on April 17, 2026.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.

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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

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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.