Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program

• Due to recent high application volume, applicants may experience delays in payment beyond the five-day standard.
• If you submitted an application prior to the closure of the application period on October 19, 2020 (6 p.m. EST) and have outstanding issues, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Service Canada will continue to work with you to complete your process.
• Applicants are encouraged to contact Service Canada only if they have not heard from or received a payment from Service Canada by October 30, 2020.

On this page

• Overview
• Fish Harvester Benefit
• Fish Harvester Grant
• Contact us for help

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)

Contact us for help

Individuals who submitted an application before the closing of the application period on October 19, 2020, and that have pending issues, Service Canada continues to process these applications. If you have not heard from or received a payment by October 30, 2020, Service Canada’s call centre is available to assist:

• 1-833-674-8283
• TTY: 1-800-465-7735