Response to the call for bids for offshore oil and gas lands was minimal, which is a stark contrast from just a few years ago.

Out of 17 possible bids, the C-NLOPB says only one successful bid was received for Parcel 9, covering 264,500 hectares, and valued at $27,000,000 in work commitments from BP Canada.

Parcel 9 overlaps a portion of an area of fish harvesting activity as well as a portion of the Northeast Newfoundland Slope Marine Refuge.

BP Canada will have to engage with DFO and fishing interests before any oil and gas activities are authorized.

If all of the required approvals are met, the C-NLOPB will issue a new exploration licence in January 2021.

The remaining 16 parcels may be reposted in a future Call for Bids.

Only a couple of years ago, $1.3-billion in work commitments came in from oil companies.