The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) has issued Calls for Nominations (Parcels) in the Eastern Newfoundland and Jeanne d’Arc Regions. Responses to these Calls for Nominations will help inform the C-NLOPB’s decision later this year on whether to proceed with Calls for Bids in either of these regions in 2024 and if so, which parcels would be offered.

The C-NLOPB recognizes that both regions include a number of important areas for fish harvesters who fish for crab and other species. The C-NLOPB recognizes the importance of both the fisheries and petroleum sectors and will continue to engage with fisheries stakeholders, including the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-UNIFOR) and the Association of Seafood Producers, along with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), other federal and provincial agencies and other interested parties throughout the land tenure process.

Following the review of responses to the new Calls for Nominations, previous input and any new feedback from the above-noted parties and technical analysis, the Board will determine whether a Call for Bids will proceed in either region. If approved, the decision will be sent to both federal and provincial Ministers as a Fundamental Decision. Following ministerial ratification, a Call for Bids would be announced in the Spring of 2024 and close in November 2024, with licences awarded to successful bidders in early 2025.

Nomination submissions or comments regarding these Calls for Nominations should be clearly labeled and submitted on or before November 8, 2023. Email submissions can be sent to information@cnlopb.ca and will be kept confidential.

Safety and environmental protection are paramount in all Board decisions. The C-NLOPB supports action by the federal and provincial governments to address climate change and protect notable marine areas, working closely with governments and others in this regard. Emissions-related considerations will be assessed as part of the regulatory review process.

For any lands entirely or partially beyond Canada’s 200 nautical mile zone, additional terms and conditions may be applied (e.g., through legislation, regulations, amendments to licences or otherwise) to any resulting licence from a Call for Bids in order to meet obligations arising pursuant to article 82 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Further detailed information about Scheduled Land Tenure is available here.

Any parties interested in receiving email notifications on Scheduled Land Tenure related announcements can contact Shannon Bulger at sbulger@cnlopb.ca.

Media Contact

Lesley Rideout
Director, Communications and Public Engagement
(709) 725-2900
lrideout@cnlopb.ca

News Releases 2023