DFO advises that both the Commercial fishery and Personal Use fishery for Harp seals and Hooded seals will close in all areas to all Seal harvesters and all fleets based in Newfoundland and Labrador at 2000 hours on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. This is the annual closure to allow time for Seal whelping and nursing. Re-opening dates for the 2017 season for these Seal fisheries, in both the Gulf and on the Front, will be announced at a later date.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2016-017 has been revoked and Variation Order 2017-013 comes into effect on March 7, 2017.

“Notices to Fish Harvesters” for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0004341