Project pre-screening

To help you determine whether to submit an application for authorization or a notification to DFO, consider the following questions based on key regulatory and environmental factors.

This short questionnaire will help you determine whether your project may require an application for authorization or whether a notification is needed.

Before you begin

You should have basic details about your project, including:

• location (water body, region)
• type of work, undertaking or activity (for example, building a new bridge, expanding a mine site)
• potential impacts to fish, habitat, or aquatic ecosystems (for example, temporarily blocking fish passage, releasing sediment)

Screening questions

Answer Yes or No to the following questions:

1. Waterbodies where a Fisheries Act Authorization is not required

Is your project located in a water body, which is isolated and/or non-fish bearing?

Isolated and non-fish bearing waters include:

• approved marine disposal or dumping sites
• tailings impoundment areas as listed in Schedule 2 of the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations
• artificial waterbodies that are not connected to a waterbody that contains fish at any time during any given year, such as:
  • private ponds
  • roadside drainage ditches
  • quarries and aggregate pits
  • irrigation ponds or channels
  • stormwater management ponds
  • commercial ponds like golf course ponds or stocked fishing ponds
• any other waterbody, which:
  • does not contain fish at any time during any given year
  • is not connected to a waterbody, which contains fish at any time during any given year

Yes = Your project can proceed without an authorization from DFO and you do not need to submit a notification to DFO.

No = Go to the next question.

2. Maintenance or repair of Ontario municipal drains

Are you doing maintenance or repair of an Ontario municipal drain, in accordance with the Maintenance and Repair of Ontario Municipal Drains Regulations?

Yes = Use the Project Submission Tool to submit a notification of maintenance and repair of an Ontario municipal drain.

No = Go to the next question.

3. Risks to fish and fish habitat

Can the risks from the project be completely avoided using the Measures and procedures to avoid and mitigate risks to fish and fish habitat?

General avoidance measures help proponents prevent harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat. If the application of these measures completely avoids the impacts to fish and fish habitat from your project, an application for authorization is not required.

Yes = If avoidance measures can be applied and impacts to fish and fish habitat are avoided, your project can proceed without an authorization from DFO and you do not need to submit a notification to DFO.

No = Go to the next question.

4. Codes of practice

Can your project follow an established DFO code of practice designed to avoid harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat?

Codes of practice specify conditions and measures to avoid harmful impacts and risks to fish and fish habitat. They are designed for routine projects. Where projects are fully covered by codes of practice, an application for authorization is not required.

Yes = Use the Project Submission Tool to submit a notification about the Codes of Practice you will be applying to your project.

No = Go to the next question.

5. Equivalent industry practices

Are there DFO-recognized Equivalent industry practices your project will follow to avoid harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat?

DFO-recognized equivalent industry practices specify best practices to avoid harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat from low risk, routine, industry-specific projects.

Yes = If the equivalent industry practice fully covers the project that you are proposing, your project can proceed without an authorization from DFO, but you need to submit a notification. Visit the Equivalent industry practices to learn how to submit your notification form.

No = Go to the next question.

6. Provincial partnerships

DFO partners with several provincial governments. If any of the following are true you may need to engage with one of those provincial governments prior to (or instead of) submitting anything to DFO.

• Your project takes place entirely or in part within the provinces of New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island.
• Your project is related to forestry watercourse crossings in Ontario.

Yes = You need to engage with the other organizations prior to, or instead of, submitting anything to DFO.

No = Go to the next question.

7. Regulatory partnership

DFO partners with the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). If the following is true, engage with the CER prior to (or instead of) submitting anything to DFO.

• Your project is related to federally regulated pipelines, for example:
  • the construction, operation and abandonment of interprovincial and international pipelines and powerlines
  • pipeline traffic, tolls and tariffs
  • energy exports
  • offshore renewable energy projects

Yes = You need to engage with the Canada Energy Regulator prior to, or instead of, submitting anything to DFO.

No = Go to the next question.

8. Aquatic species at risk

Does your project take place in an area where there are aquatic species at risk?

Yes = Your project likely requires an authorization or a species at risk permit from DFO. Apply through the Project Submission Tool.

No = Go to the next question.

Determine if there are aquatic species at risk or critical habitat in your area by checking our aquatic species at risk map. The map provides an overview of the distribution of aquatic species at risk and the presence of their critical habitat within Canadian waters. See more information on species at risk.

Under the Species at Risk Act, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is responsible for protecting aquatic species (including their critical habitat and residences), listed as Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened under the act, except for the ones located on federal lands managed by the Parks Canada Agency. If your project could affect a listed aquatic species in a national park, national historic site, or national marine conservation area, apply to Parks Canada directly.

9. Marine Protected Areas

Is your project located in a Marine Protected Area?

To determine if your project is located in a marine protected area, consult Marine Protected Areas across Canada.

Yes = Marine Protected Areas prohibit certain activities. Consult the relevant governing regulations for the area in which you are proposing to work. If you wish to proceed with your project in the Marine Protected Area, submit your application through the Project Submission Tool.

No = Go to the next question.

10. Aquatic invasive species

Does your project aim to prevent, control or eradicate aquatic invasive species?

Yes = If the project involves works, undertakings or activities in or near water aimed at preventing, controlling or eradicating aquatic invasive species, your project may need an authorization or a species at risk permit from DFO. Apply for an authorization through the Project Submission Tool.

If your project involves the use of a pest control product or drug (deleterious substance) against an aquatic invasive species, submit an application to the Aquatic Invasive Species National Core Program (Form for authorization for the use of a deleterious substance).

Before applying for an authorization, refer to the Aquatic invasive species section for guidance on species identification, prevention, control and eradication methods, reporting procedures, and more. See more information about aquatic invasive species.

No = Your project likely needs an authorization or a species at risk permit from DFO. Apply for an authorization through the Project Submission Tool or apply for a species at risk permit.