A Fisheries Act for the Future

Since 2016, a vast nationwide consultation has given the general public, environmental groups, the industry and Indigenous groups an opportunity to share their opinions on the Fisheries Act and various amendments that could be made. Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s intent for this process is to support the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitats and the sustainability of fisheries. This will benefit communities.

Many diverse amendments have been proposed. Here are just a few highlights:

• The Act would now protect all fish species, not just those subject to commercial, recreational or Aboriginal fishing.
• The Act would reinstate the prohibition of causing the alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat that was abolished in 2012.
• Decisions made by the Department would be made available on a public directory online.
• The Act would include current policies on coastal fishing. It would give authorities power to rebuild depleted fish stocks, take emergency fisheries management measures–such as to protect the North Atlantic right whale–and reinforce the long-term protection of marine refuges to support biodiversity conservation.
• Lastly, if the Act is adopted, the role of Indigenous peoples would be reinforced in reviewing various projects and developing regulatory and policy tools.

The government plans to invest up to $284 million in the next five years to implement the amendments to the Act, establish more effective enforcement of the Act and to ensure increased participation of Indigenous peoples.

Alain Guitard
Ecosystem Management