Seal Fishery Opening – January 25, 2021

The seal fishery will resume for commercial harvesters AND personal-use licenses this year, and is set to open on January 25th, 2021.

FULL SEASON DETAILS BELOW
DFO advises Newfoundland and Labrador Seal harvesters that the seal fishery will open in Sealing Areas 4 to 23 and Sealing Areas 25 to 27 at 0600 hours on January 25, 2021.

This fishery will open for Front Longliners, Areas 5 to 8 Small Boats and Speed Boats, all Area 4 vessels and for Gulf Longliners, Gulf Small Boats, Gulf Speed Boats. This includes License Classes N100 to N106, N200 to N204, and N300 to N302.

DFO further advises Seal harvesters having a homeport located between Big Brook to Noddy Bay inclusive, operating from vessels less than 40 feet, License Classes N203 and N204, that a portion of Sealing Area 5 will also open for Seals at 0600 hours on January 25, 2021.
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This “buffer zone” lies inside lines extending from:
The land at 51°18″ North, 55° 36″ West, to
51°18″ North, 54°30″ West, to
51°42″ North, 54°30″ West, to
51°42″ North, 55°27″ West, to
The land at 51° 30″ North, 55 26″ West.
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Seal harvesters are advised to check with their buyers to confirm a market for their Seals before going Sealing.
Seal harvesters are reminded that licenses and license conditions are available through DFO’s National Online Licencing System.
Additionally, all Sealers are reminded that landings must be hailed in daily, as per license conditions.
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The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2020-074 has been revoked and Variation Order 2021-002 comes into effect on January 23, 2021.
“Notices to Fish Harvesters” for all commercial fisheries are now available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at:
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