Ottawa, Ontario - Canada's fish and seafood industry contributes over $8 billion to the economy, provides over 63,000 jobs, and exports $8.5 billion in products. It helps support coastal and rural economies while supplying seafood markets around the world. Fishing is subject to various regulations that are necessary to safeguard our ocean resources, to keep workers safe, and to ensure independent harvesters can participate in this culturally important industry. The Government of Canada is working to make regulations clearer and reducing unnecessary red tape, while supporting a strong and sustainable fishing industry.
Today, the Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, announced policy initiatives underway to make fisheries stronger and regulations less burdensome for harvesters. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is moving forward with these initiatives to modernize fisheries, cut red tape, improve efficiency, clarify regulatory requirements, and support compliance:
- DFO is launching a comprehensive review of the inshore regulations. The goal is to support independent fishing enterprises, so that the economic benefits stay in the hands of local harvesters and their communities. The inshore regulations aim to ensure that licence holders remain independent from control by a third party such as processors, buyers, or other harvesters. Harvesters must personally fish under the licence, and there are rules around use and benefits from the licence. Early engagement is underway. Feedback will be used to develop materials for broader discussions with partners and stakeholders that will lead to more significant actions.
- Work is also underway to repeal regulatory provisions that mandate a one-size-fits-all approach to gear tending (soak times) for all fixed gear fisheries in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and for coastal and offshore marine fisheries in Nunavut. Amendments to the existing regulations will provide flexibility to alternative soak times on a fishery-by-fishery or fleet basis. This approach would better reflect real offshore operating conditions, help reduce safety risks for crews, and allow for more responsive and adaptive management measures.
- Ongoing work on the West Coast Commercial Fisheries Modernization initiative is focused on strengthening harvester control over fishing activities, enabling harvesters to retain a greater share of the benefits from their efforts, and modernizing the licensing regime to better support business planning and adaptation to changing conditions. As part of this initiative, DFO will establish a licence and quota registry to improve transparency and consistency. This work reflects feedback received to date, including looking at each fishery separately, given the unique conditions and business realities on the West Coast.
All these initiatives are informed by feedback received from harvesters, Indigenous communities, and industry partners. DFO will continue to work with those on the water to identify opportunities to cut red tape for a more efficient and economically prosperous fishing industry.
