NunatuKavut Inuit Fisheries Harvesting Plan

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On June 18, 2026 we launched our own NCC-led and managed NunatuKavut Inuit Fisheries Harvesting Plan for this upcoming communal fishery season. It establishes the framework for the sustainable, rights-based, and community-led harvesting of fish and marine resources within our territory.

This means we are moving away from a DFO-led fishery to one primarily led and managed by NCC. It is an important part of our self-governance. Over the past several years, NCC have taken steps to manage our own resources and advance food sovereignty within our territory, always with a priority on conservation. For example, we currently have our own guidelines on spring bird and egg harvesting, and we once introduced guidelines and our own tags around caribou hunting. We have also been strengthening our internal governance through the development of a Constitution and Laws to better reflect our Inuit values, traditions and ways of knowing.

This type of harvesting is protected under section 35 of the Constitution Act. Our continued push for access and rightful position in the fishery is about our rights as people living in direct access to the resources off our shores, in our waters. By developing our own communal fishery harvesting plan, we are one step closer to achieving food sovereignty within NunatuKavut through demonstrating leadership in decision-making and long-term strategic planning.

We understand that you may have questions about our NunatuKavut Inuit Fisheries Harvesting Plan and what it will mean for you, as a fisher. A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available below. They have been developed to help respond to some of your anticipated questions.

If you need further information, we invite you to email sighting@nunatukavut.ca or call 709-702-7892.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NunatuKavut Inuit Fisheries Harvesting Plan?

The NunatuKavut Inuit Fisheries Harvesting Plan, which was approved by NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) Governing Council on June 13, 2026, establishes the framework for the sustainable, rights-based, and community-led harvesting of fish and marine resources within NunatuKavut territory. It is an act of self-governance for NCC and our people.

This plan is grounded in Inuit Knowledge, community stewardship, and the principle of conservation-first management. It builds upon the established Communal Food Fishery Harvest and Conservation Guidelines and reflects the ongoing evolution of NunatuKavut Inuit fisheries governance.

NunatuKavut Inuit have an inherent relationship with fish and marine resources and continue to exercise harvesting rights for food, social, and ceremonial purposes. This plan provides structure, accountability, and sustainability measures to support those rights into the future.

Why are we pursuing our own communal food fishery harvesting plan and not through DFO?

Moving away from a DFO sanctioned licence and implementing an NCC-led and managed fishery is an important act of self-governance. This was always the long-term goal. Following a number of protests in the late 1990s and early 2000s, DFO issued a communal food fishery licence to NCC. Moving to our own fishery has also been a topic of discussion amongst our people for a number of years. And we have shared our intentions throughout with DFO.

In recent years, our organization and our people have been under attack. We’ve had a vicious campaign launched against us and that campaign continues even now. Our people have felt the negative impacts of being denied access and in having important opportunities taken away. That can never be allowed to happen with our fishery. That will never happen with our fishery, the very lifeblood of our communities.

An NCC-led and managed fishery will ensure its protection and sustainability. It is rights-driven. It is built on the exercise of our Aboriginal and Treaty rights, which is protected under section 35 of the Constitution Act. Our own fishery is also about the conservation and the preservation of our culture, our traditions, and our fish resources. It about having more control over our own fishery, our food, our lives.

For generations, NunatuKavut Inuit have been managing our own resources. In a more modern context, NCC currently has our own guidelines on spring bird and egg harvesting, and we once introduced guidelines and our own tags around caribou hunting.

What is NCC doing to ensure appropriate conservation measures are being taken in its communal food fishery?

NCC has taken multiple, concrete conservation measures to ensure its communal food fishery is sustainable, culturally grounded, and protected for future generations. The core approach is conservation‑first management, backed by Inuit knowledge, monitoring requirements, and collaborative stewardship.

The ENR department gathers Inuit knowledge through community meetings, our annual Resource Stewardship Workshop and our Annual General Assembly. NCC also participates in regional and international science meetings such as the Labrador Salmonid Advisory Committee and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, while continuing to lead our own salmon research. These efforts help ensure that decisions about our fishery are informed by both community knowledge and the best available science, especially as it relates to the preservation and conservation of our fishery. This is why we have a number of conservation measures in place, including gear requirement and weekend take-ups.

Our ongoing food security work has highlighted the rising food security issues within our communities. To help ensure that families can meet their needs through culturally important, locally harvested fish, NCC has provided additional tags for salmon under our fishery. These additional tags enables NCC to provide more salmon to our community freezer program to feed our Elders, our seniors, and our most vulnerable members.

NCC is also continuing to monitor and track catches through the return of catch logs and our salmon sampling program. The information collected through these programs helps NCC make informed decisions about how to manage our fishery. The more accurate the information, the better we can analyze trends and understand what is happening on the water so that we never take more than the fishery can handle. This is essential to the preservation of our fishery for future generations.

While we are starting to see catch logs come in, we are seeing a major decrease in the number of salmon being brought forward for sampling this year. We suspect it is a result of DFO’s heavy-handed enforcement actions. Unfortunately, this has become a detriment to the science work that we would normally share and collaborate together on with DFO.

When will the season open?

Upper Lake Melville — Charlie's Point to Frenchman's Point
Salmon	6am June 15, 2026 to 6pm July 8, 2026 and 6am July 20, 2026 to 6pm September 1, 2026
Trout and Char	6am May 15, 2026 to 6pm Jun 15, 2027
Rock Cod, Smelt and Seal	All Year

South Coast — Fish Cove Point to Cape Charles
Salmon, Trout and Char	6am June 30, 2026 to 6pm August 8, 2026
Cod and Halibut	6am June 18, 2026 to 6pm October 31, 2026
Herring and Mackerel	6am August 15, 2026 to 6pm September 30, 2026
Seal Netting	6am October 15, 2026 to 6pm December 24, 2026
Rock Cod, Scallop, Whelk, Smelt, Capelin and Seal	All Year

Straits — Cape Charles to Point Charles
Salmon, Trout and Char — one communal net only	6am June 30, 2026 to 6pm August 8, 2026
Cod and Halibut	6am June 18, 2026 to 6pm October 31, 2026
Herring and Mackerel	6am August 15, 2026 to 6pm September 30, 2026
Rock Cod, Scallop, Whelk, Smelt, Capelin and Seal	All Year

Are there differences in own communal fishery harvesting plan versus the licence we previously had with DFO?

Yes, there are some differences. We are not fishing under a DFO license. NCC’s fishing harvesting plan privileges Inuit knowledge and our people’s priorities with conservation being the number one priority. Our plan is also more flexible and open. It addresses some of the concerns that many of our people have expressed over the years and provides greater access to different areas and different species, in line with our ancestors historic fishing patterns.

What will DFO enforcement look like under NCC’s communal fishery harvesting plan?

This is an NCC community rights-based fishery, not a DFO-managed fishery. As in previous years, DFO will be monitoring and taking enforcement action. As this plan is not being implemented under a DFO license, we have been seeing increased enforcement by DFO this year with some seizure and return of nets. Fish is being seized as well, without being returned. It is important to note that if there are charges, however, it would be regulatory offence not a criminal offence. A regulatory offence with an Indigenous rights defence, however, can result in a prolonged legal dispute in the court system.

In the event of enforcement action, we ask that our fishers cooperate with DFO and NCC Guardians.

Will a charge impact my job in the public service or being hired in the public service?

A charge from DFO will not directly impact jobs in public service, unless working with fisheries or enforcement. It is a regulatory offence so not subject to criminal code provisions. Basically, like a parking ticket in terms of impact to criminal record search. This is the case with the regular charges under the Fisheries Act, however, if your conduct is aggressive, unruly, or if it obstructs the operations of DFO officers, it may have additional consequences. It will show up for an advanced clearance or search, but that will be for very slim jobs (i.e. CSIS, Office of the Prime Minister, enforcement positions, etc.)

What should I do if my net is seized by DFO?

Stay calm and respectful. Document when, where, and who from DFO approached you (if possible) and provide that information to ENR by phone 709-702-7892 or email sighting@nunatukavut.ca

DFO must provide you with a written seizure receipt which explains why the net was taken and what will happen next. Net seizure does not automatically mean you are charged; it may simply indicate that DFO is checking whether their rules were broken.

If DFO returns your gear, it means they don’t need to keep it as evidence, or they have decided the net wasn’t required for their investigation. They may lay charges later if they believe an offence occurred. Please let ENR know if this happens. You can also check the paperwork that they gave you and contact the local DFO office to confirm whether the matter is closed.

Will NCC provide support if I am charged by DFO?

Yes, NCC will support any fishers within our membership that have enforcement action taken against them under our fishery, as long as they are compliant with our guidelines. For example, we will not support members who are caught taking more fish than set out in the guidelines or those who fish outside of the set hours or dates.

How do I know if I am being charged by DFO?

You will know if you have been charged by DFO because they must give you official paperwork. A charge only happens if you receive a ticket, a court summons, or a formal notice from a fishery officer. If you haven’t been handed any of these documents, then you haven’t been charged. Receiving warnings, having conversations with officers, or having your equipment inspected does not mean you’re charged. DFO cannot lay charges without telling you directly and providing written information.

Did NCC consult our members on the move to an NCC-led communal food fishery?

Yes. It was discussed during every communal fishery community meeting held in communities across our territory this past May. We hosted a virtual meeting for non-resident members as well. Moving to an NCC-led and managed communal fishery was also part of a survey that was conducted at this year’s Annual General Assembly and our Resource Stewardship Workshop.

Will there be a cod fishery this year?

Yes, the guidelines or license authorized by NCC is for multi-species. It also includes halibut, rock cod, herring, mackerel, smelt, capelin, scallop, Welk and seals.

As with our previous license under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the seasonal take for cod is 100 per designation with the season ending at 6pm on October 31, 2026 for the South Coast and the Straits. Your NCC membership card is your proof of designation.

Are there tags for salmon?

Yes, there are tags with NCC branding. The number of salmon tags for resident fishers will remain at six, the number for alternate designations will remain at four, and the number for non-resident fishers will continue to be three.

Are there any changes to the guidelines under this fishery?

Yes. We encourage you to read the guidelines closely to note any changes. Here are some highlights:

More designations are available. We have increased the number of tags available to non-resident members from 150 to 300 in South Coast fishery only. This does not change the total allocation of tags (three) or other policies related to non-resident fishers.
More salmon will be available in our community freezer.
New species (smelt, rock cod, and seals) are added to the Upper Lake Melville area.
A new area “Straits – Cape Charles to Point Charles” has been added for salmon, trout, char, cod, halibut, herring, mackerel, rock cod, scallop, whelk, smelt, capelin, and seals.

As a non-resident, can I now fish in my own boat?

If a non-resident fisher wants to fish in their own boat and set their own net, please forward an email outlining your situation and rationale to Charlene at ckippenhuck@nunatukavut.ca. She will then bring it to the NCC Fisheries Committee for a decision.

How will this plan impact full members – non-resident fishers?

Full members – non-resident fishers will be able to harvest fish within the south coast area of NunatuKavut, as they have in previous years, with three salmon tags available to each designated household fisher. The only change is the number of tags available to non-resident fishers overall, from 150 to 300.

What is the risk to my non-member family member who accompanies me while I fish under NCC’s communal food fishery harvesting plan?

There is a possibility that your non-member family member may be charged and may not have a valid legal defence under the section 35 rights, since they have no Indigenous right to fish. NCC can only support members who participate in our communal fishery.

Can I assign an alternate under NCC’s fishery?

Yes. The guidelines around assigning an alternate remains the same as in previous years:

A designated harvester can appoint their spouse or an NCC member as an alternate designate.
Someone can only serve as an Alternate for one Designated Harvester at a time.
Before someone can be an Alternate for a second Designated Harvester, all report forms and any unused tags must be returned to the NCC.
Four tags are available to the designated harvester who appoints an alternate

Please note, however, that if a non-Indigenous spouse has any enforcement action taken against them by DFO, NCC cannot support them as they do not have an Indigenous right to fish.

How will this plan be enforced/regulated by NCC?

An NCC-led and managed fishery means that NCC takes on more responsibilities as an organization and our fishers, as citizens of our collective, also takes on more responsibility to ensure conservation measures are taken and guidelines are followed. This is not just for the sustainability of this fishery for the present but for future generations.

Our formal Fisheries Guardian Program was designed to support the management, protection and enforcement of the previous DFO licence and fishing regulations under the DFO Food Fishery Management Agreement. While NCC Guardians will continue to enforce the guidelines set out under our fisheries management plan, they will now have more enforcement abilities.

Why is it important to continue returning my catch log and participate in the salmon sampling program?

NCC is committed to managing this fishery on behalf of NunatuKavut Inuit. To do that responsibly, we must set harvest parameters that protect the long‑term sustainability of our salmon. Monitoring and accurate catch reporting are essential parts of sustainable management. For this reason, every designated fisher is required to complete and return a catch log.

Download the fillable PDF catch log here: 2026 NCC Catch Log Form

The information collected through catch logs and the salmon sampling program helps the NCC Fisheries Committee and the ENR Department make informed decisions about how to manage our fishery. The more accurate the information, the better we can analyze trends and understand what is happening on the water.

This data helps us understand:

how many designates did not fish
how long it took to fill tags
how to manage tag distribution
whether the season should open earlier or later
whether the season should be longer or shorter
long‑term indicators of salmon health
changes in salmon behaviour or movement patterns
whether fishers are catching larger or smaller salmon over time
environmental changes, such as new species or increased seal presence
whether productivity in specific NunatuKavut fishing areas is changing
where our traditional fishing places continue to be used

How will this impact our relationship with DFO?

Our relationship with DFO is very important one. It has been for decades and will be now and into the future. We will continue to work with DFO in a cooperative and respectful manner

Are we currently in negotiations with DFO around our fishery?

No, we are not in active negotiations with DFO around our fishery. We continue to implement an NCC-led and managed fishery that is built on the exercise of our Aboriginal and Treaty rights. NCC is always open to sitting at the table with DFO to discuss the future of our fishery.