Grand Manan, New Brunswick - Small craft harbours are vital infrastructure for coastal and rural communities, supporting fishing and transportation, while supporting the local economies built around them. Canada's commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors support nearly 65,000 jobs - including more than 42,900 commercial fish harvesters - from coast to coast to coast. In 2025, Canada's fish and seafood exports totaled $8.47 billion.
As part of the Spring Economic Update 2026, the Government of Canada is proposing $957.8 million over five years for the Small Craft Harbours Program, starting in 2026-27. This provides investments for ongoing repairs and is in addition to Fisheries and Oceans Canada's existing annual program budget of approximately $90 million.
Today, the Honourable Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions), highlighted this investment from the Spring Economic Update in Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) Small Craft Harbours Program at the Grand Manan Fishermen's Association.
The funding will allow DFO to undertake repairs, upgrades and dredging at small craft harbour facilities across Canada. Repairs will be carried out using the latest climate projections, which will result in climate resistant infrastructure that meets the needs of the commercial fishing industry as well as communities served by small craft harbours.
In Grand Manan, the Ingalls Head project consists of advanced planning and reconstruction of wharf structure 401. Ingalls Head Harbour is home to 53 commercial vessels and the main fishery is lobster.
For North Head, the project will allow for planning and reconstruction of T-wharf 401B, as well as design and planning for replacement of wharf structures 401 A, 401 C and 402. At North Head, lobster is also the main fishery for the 121 commercial vessels at the site.
As Canada transforms from economic reliance to resilience, this investment will support local and rural economic development for generations to come.
