Notice

On June 29, 2012, the Fisheries Act was amended. Policy and regulations are now being developed to support the new fisheries protection provisions of the Act (which are not yet in force). The existing guidance and policies continue to apply. For more information, see Changes to the Fisheries Act.

Changes to the Fisheries Act

On June 29 2012, amendments to the Fisheries Act received Royal Assent. The changes will focus the Act on protecting the productivity of recreational, commercial and Aboriginal fisheries.

The Government is now focusing protection rules on real and significant threats to the fisheries and the habitat that supports them, while setting clear standards and guidelines for routine projects.

Amendments by Topic

• Clarification of Purpose and Factors
• Managing Threats to Fish
• Regulatory Efficiency
• Partnerships
• Enhanced Compliance and Protection

Clarification of Purpose and Factors

The amendments include new “Purpose” and “Factors” sections that set out the objectives of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's new Fisheries Protection Provisions and provides direction for decision-making in relation to these provisions.

The Purpose section states that the fisheries protection provisions of the Fisheries Act aim to provide for the sustainability and ongoing productivity of commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries.

The four factors to be taken into account by the Minister in decision-making (e.g. issuing authorizations) or making regulations are:

• The contribution of the relevant fish to the ongoing productivity of commercial, recreational or Aboriginal fisheries;
• Fisheries management objectives;
• Whether there are measures and standards to avoid, mitigate or offset serious harm to fish that are part of a commercial, recreational or Aboriginal fishery; and
• The public interest.

Taken together, these provide a framework and direction to the Minister and Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff for decision-making, developing regulations and implementing the regulatory regime and program.

Managing Threats to Fish

The new Fisheries Protection Program contains a new prohibition that combines the current section 32 (killing of fish by means other than fishing) and section 35 (harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat).  The new prohibition will manage threats to fish that are part of or support commercial, recreational or Aboriginal fisheries with the goal of ensuring their productivity and ongoing sustainability.

The new prohibition is also supported by definitions of commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries in the Act, as well as a definition of “serious harm to fish”, which is the death of fish or any permanent alteration to, or destruction of, fish habitat.

Until this new prohibition comes into force, the current Sections 32 and 35 (with modest amendments through Bill C-38) will continue to apply.

Regulatory Efficiency

The amended Fisheries Act gives the Minister the ability to develop regulations to ensure compliance with the new prohibition. In addition, the fish passage provisions have been modernized to provide clarity as to their application.

The amendments to the Act also include regulatory tools to facilitate regulatory streamlining and increase efficiency:

• Information Requirements will be set out in regulations to clearly spell out for proponents the information the Department requires to issue an authorization, if one is required;
• Once the information is received, the Department will be bound by set timelines for the issuance of an authorization, if required.
• Incorporation by reference into regulations, will allow the department to recognize externally-developed standards (ie not developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada), as appropriate to guide activities in and near waters that require our management.
• Equivalency of regulatory regimes could be established if the provincial regime “meets or beats” provisions of the Fisheries Act or of its regulations.

The Act also allows the department and the Minister to clearly identify areas where authorization, and therefore analysis by the department, will not be required.

This new set of regulatory tools will help provide clarity and certainty for stakeholders and staff.

Partnerships

The amended Act provides the Minister with the ability to develop regulations in order to enter into agreements with other federal departments, provinces and others for the effective management of fisheries resources.

With respect to delegation, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans could, through regulations, provide other government departments or provinces the authority to issue authorizations under the Fisheries Act, as long as their regulatory processes are consistent with the objectives, purpose and factors outlined in the Act.

Enhanced Compliance and Protection

The Act now includes a number of provisions that enable enhanced compliance and protection of commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries. These fisheries will be provided additional protection by providing new authorities to the Minister to effectively address threats such as aquatic invasive species.

In addition, a number of provisions enable enhanced protection of these fisheries by:

• Aligning the Fisheries Act with the Environmental Enforcement Act (increased fines and penalties for offences);
• Creating more easily enforceable conditions for Ministerial authorizations;
• Modernizing inspector powers to assist them in ensuring compliance with section 35; and
• Establishing a “duty to notify” provision to establish obligations on persons whose actions result in harm to fish habitat to report and to take corrective measures.

Finally, the amendments also provide the Minister with the ability to designate ecologically significant areas for fish. The Minister may require higher levels of protection for such areas and proponents would be required to submit plans for review if any activities are proposed within these areas.

Fisheries Act Changes - Benefits to Stakeholders

The changes introduced to the Act on June 29, 2012 will provide benefits to key stakeholders.

• Anglers
• Conservation groups
• Landowners and municipalities
• Industry
• Provinces and Territories

Anglers

For anglers, the proposed changes will recognize the importance of the recreational fishery and provide protection to these fisheries to support their ongoing productivity.

Conservation Groups

For conservation groups, the changes allow the Minister to enter into agreements with these and other groups, to enable them to undertake measures to enhance fisheries protection. This can include innovative approaches to protect habitat, support for aquatic invasive species outreach, and developing standards for fish protection or other matters. The changes enable the identification and protection of ecologically significant areas. These changes also include enhanced compliance and enforcement tools such as enforceable conditions, duty for proponents to notify in the event of serious harm to fisheries, and penalties aligned with the Environmental Enforcement Act.

Landowners and Municipalities

For landowners and municipalities, the new measures will provide regulatory certainty as to whether and how the fisheries protection provisions apply to them. It will move Fisheries and Oceans Canada away from reviewing every activity that landowners may undertake to focusing on activities that may impact on the sustainability and productivity of recreational, commercial, or Aboriginal fisheries.

Industry

For industry, the changes will provide greater clarity on the types of activities that will be reviewed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. These changes complement those announced as part of the Responsible Resource Development announcement, which included regulations clarifying information requirements and timelines for permitting.

Provinces and Territories

For provinces and territories, the new measures enable further opportunities for partnerships and working together, including equivalency, delegation and broad agreement-making authorities to ensure the two levels of government can work together effectively.

Previous Announcements

Harper Government Commits to the Responsible Protection and Conservation of Canada's Fisheries (April 24, 2012)