Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program

• Please be advised that Service Canada is delivering the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This includes processing applications, issuing payments and mailing out tax slips.
• Service Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are currently undertaking verification of information related to applications and / or payment information from the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program.
• If you have not received your payment and have not been contacted by either Service Canada or Fisheries and Oceans Canada, please contact the Service Canada Call Centre at 1-833-674-8283 (TTY: 1-800-465-7735) to discuss your file.
• Applicants who received the first payment of the Fish Harvester Benefit will need to make a second application in 2021 after they have a final Canada Revenue Agency assessed 2020 self-employed fishing income amount. This is necessary in order to calculate actual income losses in 2020.
• Applications for the second Benefit payment are expected to commence in April 2021 and must be made by October 1, 2021.
• Failure to submit the second application during this period will result in the harvester being deemed ineligible to have received their first payment. This 1st payment would then be considered an overpayment that will have to be paid back to the Government of Canada.
• Once the second application is submitted, payment for the second portion of the Benefit should be completed by the end of November 2021. The maximum combined amount of the 1st and 2nd payments is $10,164.

On this page

• Overview
• Fish Harvester Benefit
• Fish Harvester Grant
• Frequently asked questions

Overview

On May 14, 2020, the Prime Minister announced the creation of measures to support Canada’s fish harvesters who are feeling the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures are the Fish Harvester Benefit and Fish Harvester Grant. Information on this program, who can apply, and what information is required is provided below.

Successful applicants will receive immediate notification of their payment(s) amount and their first payment will be deposited in their bank accounts within 5 business days following their application. Payments by cheques will also be issued within 5 business days with delivery of cheques subject to regular mail delivery timelines.

Fish Harvester Benefit

The Fish Harvester Benefit offers income support to self-employed fish harvesters and sharepersons. The benefit covers up to 75% of income losses beyond a 25% threshold for the 2020 tax year when compared to 2018 or 2019. The maximum benefit is $10,164.

Who is eligible?

The following are eligible for the Fish Harvester Benefit:

• Self-employed commercial fish harvesters (e.g. “owner-operators”, enterprise heads, inshore, licence holders, or hold limited entry commercial licence eligibility (Pacific))
• Self-employed freshwater fish harvesters
• Indigenous harvesters who are designated by their community under a communal commercial fishing licence
• Sharepersons crew

Who is not eligible?

The following are not eligible for the Fish Harvester Benefit:

• Commercial fish harvesters in the offshore sector
• Recreational fish harvesters, including sport fishing enterprises
• Individuals and companies within the aquaculture sector
• Individuals and companies within the processing sector
• Wage-earning crew
• Anyone who has applied for or received the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) to support their own wages.

Please refer to the COVID-19: Information for industry, Indigenous peoples, and other partners to learn about other supports that may apply to you.

What information will I need to provide?

Individuals applying for the Fish Harvester Benefit need to ensure that they have the following information available :

• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Full Name
• The amount of their reported self-employed fishing income for the 2018 or 2019 tax year
• Income Tax Program Account Number if income is reported under a corporation
• Projected estimate of the applicant’s self-employed fishing income for 2020
• Applicant’s full home address
• Phone number
• Email
• Bank details for payments (including branch transit number, institution number and account number)

Fish Harvester Grant

The Fish Harvester Grant is a non-repayable grant to self-employed fish harvesters with a valid commercial fishing licence in 2020 (issued by DFO or their Province or Territory for freshwater commercial harvesters). The Grant provides a maximum non-repayable support of up to $10,000, dependent on the level of the fish harvesters’ historic fishing revenue in 2018 or 2019.

• A lesser Grant amount may be provided on a sliding scale relative to revenue or actual expenses, with payments under the Grant not to exceed actual expenses.

Who is eligible?

The following are eligible for the Fish Harvester Grant:

• Self-employed commercial fish harvesters (e.g. “owner-operators”, enterprise heads, inshore licence holders or hold limited entry commercial licence eligibility (Pacific)
• Freshwater fish harvesters (subject to provincial agreement to provide licensing information)
• Indigenous harvesters who are designated as Vessel Masters by their community under a communal commercial fishing licence

Additional criteria for the Fish Harvester Grant:

• Must hold a valid commercial fishing license for 2020
• Must have landings against a commercial fishing license for 2018 or 2019

Who is not eligible?

The following are not eligible for the Fish Harvester Grant:

• Crew (wage-earning and sharepersons)
• Commercial fish harvesters in the offshore sector
• Recreational fish harvesters, including sport fishing enterprises
• Individuals and companies within the aquaculture sector
• Individuals and companies within the processing sector
• Anyone who has applied for or received the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) or equivalent measures

Please refer to the COVID-19: Information for industry, Indigenous peoples, and other partners to learn about other supports that may apply to you.

What information will I need to provide?

Individuals applying for the Fish Harvester Grant need to ensure that they have the following information available:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Full Name
• Amount of their reported self-employed fishing income for the 2018 or 2019 tax year
• Income Tax Program Account Number if income is reported under a corporation
• Projected estimate of 2020 business expenses related to fishing
• Applicant’s full home address
• Phone number
• Email
• Bank details for payments (including branch transit number, institution number and account number)
• Unique Identifier or Fisher Identification Number (FIN)

Frequently asked questions