Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association

06/17/2026

Congratulations to 2026 graduate Gabrielle a recipient of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association student bursary. Best of luck in your future studies.

06/06/2026

IMPORTANT UPDATE: CATCH CERTIFICATE SIGNATORY REQUESTS IN NOLS
Maritimes Region – June 6, 2026
As of April 8, 2026, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been accepting Catch Certificate Signatory Requests through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). The amended European Union (EU) Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) regulations, which came into force on January 10, 2026, require that certain fish and seafood products imported into the EU be accompanied by a catch certificate signed by the licence holder or vessel master—or by their duly authorized representative.
The EU requirement for a licence holder or vessel master to verify and sign the catch information on each catch certificate is intended to ensure that the information has been confirmed at its source by the harvester. In Canada, however, harvesters do not typically use the Fisheries Certificate System (FCS), which is designed as a traceability tool to support export certification. Because Canadian catch certificates for the EU are issued at the point of export, it is generally not feasible for all licence holders to sign each certificate prior to shipment—particularly during busy fishing seasons.
To address this, licence holders must formally authorize the applicant manager of the company that buys their catches, to sign catch certificates on their behalf. Applicant managers must be duly authorized by the licence holder to enter catch reports into catch certificate applications based on information they receive from the licence holder, and then to sign-off on these catch reports confirming that the information is a true representation of the licence holder’s catches. Foreign officials will only accept catch certificates if the signature appearing next to a licence holder’s catch report is the signature of the individual authorized to sign on their behalf.
When a fisher authorizes an applicant manager from a buyer company, the authorization applies only to the act of signing the catch certificate. It does not grant any additional authority, permissions, or decisionmaking rights to the applicant manager.
For more information, you can contact us at [email protected] or by calling the NOLS line at 1-877-535-7307.

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/safety-measures-concerning-life-saving-appliances-ssb-no-09-2026

FYI in case you haven’t received it already. I would strongly suggest that everyone give this a close read and ensure all safety equipment is onboard, valid and properly fitted. Checking in with safety equipment suppliers and manufactures will confirm their recommendations and any updates are passed along to vessel crews and owners and are followed.

This bulletin reminds the marine community of some well-established safe practices for life-saving appliances.

06/03/2026

Please view the poster for a session near you.
Don’t miss out, not certain how many more of the sessions will be available.

06/03/2026

05/28/2026

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/new-vessel-stability-e-course-canadian-seafarers-ssb-no-04-2026

To promote a course that explains what makes a vessel stable and how different factors affect stability.

05/27/2026

For any interested members who accessed EI in the last year, Service Canada is doing surveys on EI fishing benefits at their Shelburne office (June 9-10) and Yarmouth office (June 11), 9:00am-3:00pm.

They’re giving $50 cash cards for 30 minute chats and $100 cash cards for 45-60 minute chats.