Apply

If your project is likely to cause the death of fish and/or harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat, you may need to apply for an authorization under the Fisheries Act.

If your project is likely to affect listed aquatic species at risk or their residence or critical habitat, you may need to apply for a permit under the Species at Risk Act.

If you can follow all the measures and meet all the conditions of an applicable code of practice, you do not need an authorization. Use the Project Submission Tool to submit a notification when using a code of practice, at least 10 days before you start work.

• Answer Project pre-screening questions to determine whether to submit an application for authorization or a notification.
• Find out how to submit an application for authorization (PDF, 1.1 MB) under the Fisheries Act or a notification.
• For those already holding a valid Fisheries Act authorization, find out how to apply for an amendment, suspension, cancellation or reinstatement of your authorization (PDF, 1.1 MB).

First steps

Project pre-screening

Answer a few pre-screening questions to find the right process for your project and determine whether you can proceed with your project without a DFO review or if you need to apply for an authorization or submit a notification.

Project Submission Tool

Use this tool to submit an application for authorization or submit a project notification for the maintenance and repair of Ontario municipal drains, or when applying a code of practice.

Next steps

When you submit an application or notification in the project submission tool or by email, you'll receive confirmation of receipt. The confirmation will set out any needed next steps.