Ottawa, Ontario - Atlantic Canada and Quebec harvest over $3 billion worth of fish annually. To help keep these economic benefits in the hands of independent licence holders and their communities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) developed inshore regulations which came into full effect in 2021. The Inshore Regulations were introduced to clarify who can hold a licence, who must do the fishing, and who can make decisions about the fishing activities. A comprehensive review of the Inshore Regulations began in February 2026.
Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced two measures to make sure the economic benefits of fishing stay with independent harvesters and their communities.
First, DFO is taking a stronger stance on compliance with the Inshore Regulations when licences are transferred from one harvester to another. Applicants will be required to have final agreements in place before applying for a licence transfer, and they will have a 30-day window to respond to questions or address issues. For any agreements found to be still non-compliant, there will be a 12-month pause before new entrant applicants can reapply. These changes respond directly to industry feedback on how the inshore regulations are applied.
Second, as part of its Red Tape Review, DFO is holding engagement sessions and town halls on the inshore regulations across Atlantic Canada this summer, giving harvesters and communities a chance to share their experiences with the rules. These meetings are in-person but include a hybrid option, so participants can join online. An online questionnaire is available for those who are unable to attend.
The engagement sessions give harvesters and communities a chance to share their experiences with the regulations. The goal is to find ways to improve the rules, make them clearer, and ensure stakeholders and third-party lenders understand how they are applied. Input will help inform the comprehensive review aimed at supporting the owner-operator model, responding to the needs of harvesters, and strengthening coastal communities.
