Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard: Key contacts, fast facts and media lines

On this page

• Key contact information
• Fast facts: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Fast facts: Marine sector
• Fast facts: National fisheries
• Corporate key messages
• Scrum issues – Media lines
  • Atlantic Indigenous fisheries
  • West Coast Indigenous fisheries
  • Pacific Salmon
  • Big Bar landslide response
  • Whales
  • Clearwater sale
  • Canadian Coast Guard fleet renewal
  • Aquaculture

Key contact information

Departmental office address:
Centennial Towers
200 Kent Street
15th Floor, Ste. 1526
Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6

General Ministerial e-mail address:
MIN@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Timothy Sargent
Deputy Minister
[Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act.]

Johanna Hill
Departmental Assistant
[Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act.]

Fast facts: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

• The Department has approximately 13,000 employees (including close to 6,000 in the Canadian Coast Guard).
• There are more than 350 work locations across the country, with over 80 per cent of employees working outside the National Capital Region.
• The 2021-22 Main Estimates forecast spending of $4.4 billion for the Department.

Fast facts: Marine sector

• The marine sector contributed $36.1 billion or 1.6 per cent to Canada's GDP in 2018.
• Commercial fish and seafood industries (harvest, processing and aquaculture) contribute $7.6 billion, followed by offshore oil and gas ($7.5 billion) and marine transportation ($7.5 billion). 
• In 2018, marine industries supported 298,333 jobs (1.6 per cent of employment) throughout Canada's economy, which is 11.6 per cent higher than five years ago.
• Transportation activity (68,800 jobs), followed by commercial fish and seafood (65,000 jobs), and marine tourism and recreation (63,600) support the majority of sector employment.
• At $6.4 billion in 2020, fish and seafood are among the largest single food commodities exported by Canada. Nationally, ocean-based recreational fisheries are much smaller and contribute 2 per cent of marine economy output, but remain a key economic driver for communities, particularly on the west coast. 
• The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges in 2020. A drop in international demand resulted in Canada's export volume and average price each falling by 7 per cent compared to 2019, a record year. Border closures also resulted in slower activity in ocean tourism activities.
• The U.S remains Canada's largest export market, valued at $4.1 billion in 2020 (64.1 per cent). Trade with the U.S. remained stronger than with other partners, helping to buffer the effects of the pandemic.
• In 2020, lobster ($2.1 billion), snow and queen crab ($957 million), Atlantic salmon ($808 million), and shrimp ($373 million) were Canada's largest seafood exports.
• These four species accounted for 66 per cent of total seafood exports by value and 46 per cent by volume.

Fast facts: National fisheries

Commercial fisheries statistics (2019)

Number of registered fishing vessels: 17,061
Number of aquaculture establishments: 1,396

Gross value of outputs ($'000)

Commercial sea and freshwater fisheries landings: 3,701,507
Aquaculture production (2019): 1,230,146
Seafood product preparation and packaging revenues: 6,730,676

Employment (2019)

Commercial fish harvesters and crew: 51,381
Aquaculture operations: 3,785
Seafood product preparation and packaging: 28,497

International trade ($'000) in 2020

Value of fish and seafood exports: 6,431,279
Value of fish and seafood imports: 3,973,109
Trade balance (2020): 2,458,188

Recreational fisheries statistics (2015)

Number of active adult anglers: 3,240,413
Direct expenditures ($'000): 2,544,967
Direct investments ($'000): 2,588,943

Corporate key messages

• Canada's oceans are rich, diverse, and vital to our economy.
• Our fish and seafood industry brings tremendous economic value to communities across Canada and employs over 83,000 people in good-paying, middle class jobs from coast-to-coast-coast.
• Last year, Canada exported over $6 billion in fish and seafood to 124 countries.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) manages over 200 fisheries across Canada's three coasts through sustainable and responsible fisheries management that is driven by science.
• As stewards of the longest coastline in the world, it is our shared responsibility to keep our oceans healthy, so we can grow ocean industries sustainably as part of a blue economy.
• Through marine conservation measures, we have protected 13.8 per cent of our oceans, and have committed to protecting 25 per cent by 2025, working toward 30 per cent by 2030.
• Through the Canadian Coast Guard, the Department also has a strong role in ensuring the safety, accessibility and security of Canadian waters, as well as enabling robust economic activity and trade via marine shipping and transport.
• We must move our fish and seafood sector forward in a way that is economically prosperous, environmentally sustainable and globally competitive.
• To do this, we must reinvigorate and reimagine the future of this sector through strategic partnerships, investments, innovations and clean technologies.
• Our stakeholders are keen to move forward with building more robust, profitable and diverse fisheries and maritime sectors, and I am eager to begin working with them.

Scrum issues – Media lines

• Atlantic Indigenous fisheries
• West Coast Indigenous fisheries
• Pacific Salmon
• Big Bar landslide response
• Whales
• Clearwater sale
• Canadian Coast Guard fleet renewal
• Aquaculture

Atlantic Indigenous fisheries

Issue: The treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood was affirmed in the 1999 Supreme Court of Canada's Marshall decision and extends to 35 First Nations in the Maritimes and Quebec. Tensions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fish harvesters in Southwest Nova Scotia's lobster fishery have existed for some time. The Sipekne'katik First Nation launched an unauthorized self-described moderate livelihood lobster fishery in September 2020, in St Marys Bay, Nova Scotia, and other First Nations followed suit.

This year, DFO has pursued a new path for First Nations to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood. Understandings have been reached with some First Nations and talks continue with others. While levels of unrest have not been as high thus far in 2021, the situation will likely remain tense.

Media lines:

• Respectful, constructive dialogue is the best way to advance reconciliation, and implement rights-based fisheries.
• We continue to work with First Nations to reach agreements and implement their right to a moderate livelihood.
• For example, this spring Fisheries and Oceans Canada worked with Potlotek First Nation on their fishing plan, under which they fished lobster for 5 weeks. More recently, we have reached an interim understanding that will see Bear River and Annapolis Valley First Nation members fishing lobster in pursuit of a moderate livelihood during the upcoming commercial lobster seasons. The understanding was jointly developed with Acadia and Glooscap First Nations who may request their communities fish under this understanding later in the season.
• The Department continues to move forward with other First Nations to further implement their rights-based fisheries.
• We have engaged earnestly with First Nations, industry associations and their members. And we increased our communication with the public, being open and transparent about what lies ahead. DFO is committed to working on a collaborative path forward with all parties to ensure a safe, orderly, and sustainable fishery for the benefit of all.

On enforcement:

• Conservation and Protection is a modern, professional, law enforcement arm of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
• It is fishery officers' job to monitor the fishing activity of all fishers to ensure compliance with the Fisheries Act objectively, professionally, and with respect.
• Officers take a progressive approach in their operations, including education, issuing warnings and laying charges. In each instance they use their discretion as they take many situational factors into consideration.
• Of primary importance to all is the safety of staff, all harvesters and the general public.

West Coast Indigenous fisheries

Issue: The Five Nuu-chah-nulth Nations hold Indigenous rights to fish and to sell fish. The Five Nations are of the view that their fishing allocation is not sufficient and that reconciliation talks with Canada are too slow. In correspondence with the Department, the Five First Nations have continued to raise these concerns.

On August 4, 2021, the leadership of the Five Nations authorized a protest fishery targeting offshore Chinook and halibut. DFO is actively monitoring the fishery and has warned local buyers it is illegal to buy fish that exceeds the Nations' allocation.

Media lines:

• The Government of Canada has been in active discussions with the Five Nuu-chah-nulth Nations to negotiate a more comprehensive reconciliation agreement for fisheries resources.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to manage this year's salmon fishery respecting both the fisheries management plan for the Five Nations' right-based fishery and the salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Southern BC.
• At the end of the season, we will conduct a year-end review and consult with the Five Nations on any adjustments that may be required for 2022.

Pacific Salmon

Issue: Pacific salmon have undergone precipitous and historic declines in recent decades. The fishery has significant cultural and economic implications for British Columbia and the topic receives considerable regional media attention. DFO closed 60 per cent of the commercial Pacific salmon fisheries on the West Coast in 2021 as well as announcing $647 million in new funding to support recovery measures.

Media lines:

• The Government of Canada recognizes that key Pacific salmon stocks are declining to historic lows and is committed to reversing this trend.
• These declines are the result of a combination of drivers, including climate change and warming waters, habitat degradation, land and water use pressures, acute one-time events (toxic spills and landslides), and fishing pressures, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
• We are committed to working with partners to restore and maintain wild Pacific salmon populations and their habitats.

Big Bar landslide response

Issue: On June 23, 2019, DFO was notified of a landslide in a remote area of the Fraser River near Big Bar, British Columbia which would severely impact the migration of salmon to spawning grounds. DFO set out to establish a permanent fishway on the site. Challenging and evolving site conditions affected its safe and timely implementation although environmental conditions and a temporary fish way allowed for good passage this year. DFO has terminated the contract awarded to Peter Kiewit and Sons ULC and is doing a review to establish a long-term solution to safely restore natural fish passage through the area.

Media lines:

• The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nation governments, and the Province of British Columbia to develop a long-term solution at Big Bar and to reduce the impact of this landslide on future salmon stocks.
• With the support of First Nations partners and the Province of British Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is undertaking analysis to explore options to safely restore natural fish passage at Big Bar.
• We need to analyze existing and incoming data, including input from First Nations partners and third-party consultants and the performance of the "nature-like" fishway.
• Together with First Nations and the Province, we will continue to coordinate short-term solutions while pursuing long-term options at the site.

Whales

Issue: Canada's endangered whales – particularly the Southern Resident killer whale on the West Coast, and the North Atlantic right whale on the East Coast, generate a lot of media interest – local, national and international. No matter the species (humpback, fin, blue whale, etc.) incidents such as mortalities, vessel collisions, and fishing entanglements can trigger media stories and profile.

Media lines:

North Atlantic Right Whale:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is taking actions to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglements in fishing gear.
• We have adjusted the timing of fishing seasons, and temporarily closed fishing areas when and where whales are present. We are also working with partners to remove harmful lost and abandoned ("ghost") gear from our waters.  
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada's new Whalesafe Gear Adoption Fund will help commercial harvesters in Atlantic Canada and Quebec implement whalesafe gear by the 2023 fishing seasons.
• Canada's world leading efforts including comprehensive surveillance, closure protocols and other measures are making a difference.

Southern Resident Killer Whale:

• Southern Resident killer whales are vital to the local marine ecosystem and have cultural significance for Indigenous peoples and coastal communities in British Columbia.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is taking many actions to protect this species, including addressing the limited availability of their main prey, Chinook salmon. We put in place fishing restrictions and voluntary measures in key foraging areas within their critical habitat, and piloted a new fishery closure protocol for salmon fisheries in the Gulf Islands.
• These measures will reduce competition for Chinook salmon between fish harvesters and killer whales, while still providing opportunities for non-salmon recreational and commercial fisheries and food, social and ceremonial harvest and aboriginal domestic treaty fishing access.

Clearwater sale

Issue: On January 25, 2021, Clearwater Seafoods Inc was sold to Premium Brands Holdings Corporation and a Coalition of Mi'kmaq First Nations (50/50 ownership). As part of the sale, Clearwater requested the re-issuance of its offshore and midshore fishing licences and associated quotas to the Coalition of Mi'kmaq First Nations (FNC Quota Limited).

The decision to reissue the fishing licences was made by the then Minister and communicated to the applicants this summer. On September 2, 2021 the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and Qikiqtani Inuit Association made an application for a judicial review of the Minister's decision.

Media lines:

• Following a thorough assessment by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the decision to transfer Clearwater's fishing licences to FNC Quota Limited Partnership was communicated to the applicants.
• With the September 2, 2021 application of a judicial review by the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and Qikiqtani Inuit Association, this matter is now before the court and we have no additional comment at this time.

Canadian Coast Guard fleet renewal

Issue: The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is a long-term project to renew Canada's federal fleet of combat and non-combat vessels.

Media coverage tends to be positive in tone when related to the completion of vessels under the NSS. However, the negative perception persists that the NSS is not living up to expectations, is failing to deliver fast enough to replace aging Coast Guard vessels, and that costs are increasing.

Media lines:

• The Government of Canada is committed to the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and is making a significant investment in new vessels that will bring a modern, flexible approach to program delivery.
• This includes the construction of two new Polar icebreakers designed to operate year round in Canada's North in support of Arctic sovereignty, high Arctic science, including climate change research, as well as capabilities to respond to maritime emergencies.
• Investment in the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet is providing opportunities for Canadian shipyards across the country, helping to create skilled jobs, reinvigorating domestic supply chains and helping to support Canada's COVID-19 economic recovery effort.

Aquaculture

Issue: According to 2019 public opinion research, there is general public support for the industry. However, despite extensive science showing that there is only minimal risk to wild populations, there is still public concern over the possible environmental impacts that aquaculture may have.

Media lines:

• In Canada, the aquaculture industry is regulated by a complex and comprehensive mix of federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions which requires close collaboration on this important shared responsibility.
• The role of the Government of Canada is to ensure that the aquaculture industry is advancing approaches to fish and seafood farming that are both responsible and sustainable.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada—in partnership with provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments—makes decisions that are rooted in the best available science, and that are informed by Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge.
• Decisions about aquaculture practices are aimed at protecting the health of wild fish stocks while also advancing sustainable aquaculture practices that support coastal and rural communities.