Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard: Key Messages

Table of contents

Fish and Seafood Exports

Issue

Fish and seafood are among the largest single food commodities exported by Canada, with Canadian seafood being exported to 118 countries in 2024. Canada's most valuable exports by species in 2024 were lobster, snow/queen crab, and Atlantic salmon. Lobster was Canada’s most valuable export species, worth $2.9 billion in 2024.

Key messages

• Fish and seafood are among the largest single food commodities exported by Canada.
• We are proud of the fish and seafood that we catch. Fish and seafood are part of our culture and way of life, and it’s vital that our fisheries remain healthy for future generations.
• In Canada, we have a well-regulated, scientifically-monitored and legally-enforced industry that’s economically prosperous, environmentally sustainable and socially responsible.
• Canadian and US seafood harvesters and processors are closely interconnected, which helps to keep seafood affordable and supports North American food security.
• The Government of Canada is working closely with Indigenous partners, provinces and territories, and industry to continue to promote Canadian seafood.

U.S. Tariffs

Issue

On March 4, 2025, U.S. tariffs of 25 % on Canadian goods and 10 % on energy exports from Canada imported into the U.S. came into effect. However, on March 6, 2025, President Trump Issued an Executive Order exempting U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods that normally enter the U.S. duty-free under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which includes Canadian harvested fish and seafood.

On March 28, 2025, Prime Minister Carney and President Donald Trump agreed that Canada and the U.S. would begin comprehensive negotiations about a new economic and security relationship immediately following the Canadian federal election on April 28, 2025. On May 6, 2025, Prime Minister Carney met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, as part of these continued conversations.

Key messages (provided by Global Affairs Canada)

• The United States’ decision to move ahead with the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canada is highly disappointing – and one that will hurt American consumers, workers and businesses first and foremost.
• Our initial response against these unjustified U.S. tariffs is proportionate and targeted, with the goal to minimize negative domestic impacts as much as possible, while mobilizing the greatest number of voices inside the U.S. to advocate against these tariffs.
• To be clear, these tariffs are harmful to both the Canadian and U.S. economies, and will negatively affect businesses, workers, and consumers.
• The Government of Canada will always defend the national interest and the best interests of Canadians. We remain ready to work with the U.S. to advance our shared economic prosperity and security, but we will not stand by as the U.S. takes these actions against Canada.
• Canada will continue to engage with the U.S. to lift these unjustified tariffs, and prevent the imposition of additional tariffs threatened by the U.S. administration. As soon as the U.S. removes its tariffs on Canada, we will remove ours.
• Canada will consider additional responses as appropriate.
• All options remain on the table.

If pressed on Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA):

• Canada is ready to work again with the Trump administration to strengthen a prosperous, secure and competitive North America.
• CUSMA provides a stable and predictable trading environment for businesses in North America and creates market opportunities for companies.
• We look forward to continuing to work closely with both the U.S. and Mexico on strengthening CUSMA.
• Canada will continue to consult closely with provincial and territorial partners, stakeholders, civil society and all Canadians as we engage with the U.S. and Mexico on CUSMA.

China Tariffs

Issue

On Mach 8, 2025, China announced the conclusion of an “anti-discrimination” investigation that it initiated against Canada Fishing on September 26, 2024, resulting in the announcement of tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas, fish, seafood and pork products, scheduled to enter into force on March 20, 2025. More specifically, the announcement cites 25% tariffs on 49 Canadian fish and seafood products, including crab, shrimp, prawn, clams, lobster, sea cucumber, geoduck, and halibut.

Key messages (provided by Global Affairs Canada)

• Canada is committed to leveling the playing field for Canadian workers and businesses facing unfair competition.
• Canada will – at all times – defend its national interest and the best interests of Canadians. This includes levelling the playing field for Canadian workers, businesses and key sectors facing unfair competition in the EV, steel and aluminum sectors.
• China is the destination of 3.8% of Canada’s exports and remains an important export destination due to the size of its market. However, the operating environment in China (e.g. investment restrictions, intellectual property theft, and use of forced labour) also makes it a challenging market for Canadian businesses.
• Canada cannot ignore the threat posed by China’s non-market policies and practices. These policies create artificially lower production costs, significant market distortions, and an unequal playing field when competing with Chinese firms.
• China’s policies and practices create significant overcapacity in Chinese production that poses a threat to key Canadian sectors.

U.S. Relationship / DFO & CCG

Issue

Recent events related to Canada’s relationship with the U.S. have placed a high focus on bilaterial working relationships with DFO and CCG’s partners—the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Key messages

On the relationship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a longstanding and collaborative relationship with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• As an organization committed to evidence-based decision-making and collaborative approaches to ensuring the safety, security, and conservation of our oceans, we greatly value our international partnerships.
• Safeguarding our waters and ocean resources for future generations requires an approach that often goes beyond borders.

On the relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard:

• For over 50 years, Canada and the United States have collaborated to ensure safe and efficient marine transit on our shared waters.
• The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) work closely together on a wide range of services, including environmental response, search and rescue, icebreaking, marine traffic management, and aids to navigation.
• The partnership between CCG and USCG is critical to advancing shared priorities and is part of ensuring robust collaboration across different levels of government, local authorities, Indigenous Peoples, industry, non-governmental organizations, and the public.

Elver fishery

Issue

Over the last number of years, the elver fishery in Maritimes Region has experienced an unsustainable level of unauthorized harvesting and violence, directly impacting the Department’s ability to support an orderly fishery. In response, the Minister Issued fisheries management orders in 2020 and 2023 to close the fishery, and in 2024 the Minister decided not to open the fishery. On March 1, 2025, new regulations were put in place to manage an orderly and sustainable fishery. On March 22, 2025, the elver fishery opened for the season and Fisheries Officers are observing high levels of compliance.

Key messages

• An orderly and well-regulated elver fishery is essential for the long-term sustainability of this high-value species.
• To support access to rights-based fishing in pursuit of a moderate livelihood, 50% of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has been redistributed to First Nations entering the fishery for the 2025 season.
• Fishing, possessing or exporting elver without a licence will not be tolerated.
• Fisheries Officers are patrolling rivers, inspecting holding facilities and export points, and working with law enforcement partners, to enforce the Fisheries Act and regulations, to keep this fishery sustainable and orderly.
• There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Overall, Fisheries Officers are observing high levels of compliance.
• Fisheries Officers have a range of compliance measures that they can use depending on the particular situation, which may include education, issuing warnings, issuing tickets, seizing items and/or making arrests.
• Any compliance measures taken will be based on numerous factors, including the severity of the offence, and the context in which it was committed.
• The health and safety of our Fisheries Officers remains our top concern. Fisheries Officers are dedicated, well-trained professionals, and acts of violence and threats towards them will not be tolerated.
• As of May 11, fishery officers have conducted 929 riverside inspections, 118 inspections at holding facilities and 227 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

Moderate Livelihood

Issue

The Supreme Court of Canada Marshall decisions (1999) affirmed that 34 Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik First Nations, as well as the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik, have a treaty right to fish, hunt, and gather in pursuit of a moderate livelihood. Since the Marshall decisions were rendered, DFO has been working with these communities to implement this right through a variety of programs and initiatives.

Most recently, the Department has committed increased funding to implement this treaty right through a new initiative called Community-Based Access Acquisition (CBAA). CBAA funding can be used towards the purchase of access, vessels and gear and to support community capacity to reach long-term collaborative management agreements with DFO.

Indigenous community perspectives vary. Some criticize the Department for “attempting to buy their rights” while others do not recognize the Department’s role in regulating their fisheries. Industry, particularly the inshore lobster fishery, have argued that First Nations do not require additional funding or access to satisfy the treaty right.

On June 20, 2024, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia granted the request of both Sipekne’katik and the Attorney General of Canada to pause the current litigation schedule to December 14, 2024, to allow the parties to concentrate their efforts on mediation to work towards a resolution of the litigation filed by the First Nation. This deadline has been extended to June 16, 2025.

Key messages

• DFO has committed $259.4 million over three years to further implement the treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood.
• This funding will support commercial fisheries access acquisition by communities through the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ approach and continued engagement on long-term collaborative fisheries management agreements between DFO and Indigenous communities.
• DFO works with communities to further implement the Treaty right through the negotiation of agreements, programmatic initiatives, or other arrangements using tools that reflect communities’ interests and visions. This new funding will help communities to acquire access themselves to advance their fishing plans.
• The access acquired through this renewed support will not increase overall fishing effort and moderate livelihood treaty right-based fishing will continue to take place within established commercial fishing seasons.

• Participation in the program is voluntary, and it does not seek to define the moderate livelihood right.

If pressed on mediation with Sipekne’katik:

• Mediation with Sipekne'katik is ongoing. DFO will continue to engage with Sipekne’katik to discuss the implementation of their right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood as the Department has done with other Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada and Quebec for the past 25 years.

Marine Conservation

Issue

Under Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested $976.8 million in funding over five years to reach marine conservation targets through the establishment of marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, such as marine refuges.

Key messages

• In 2020, the Government of Canada joined the Global Ocean Alliance and committed to conserving 30 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2030.
• Healthy oceans help secure a healthy future and support a sustainable economy.
• By working with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, as well as coastal communities and marine-related industries, Canada has protected over 15 per cent of marine and coastal areas.

Canadian Coast Guard Presence in the Arctic

Issue

There have been increasing calls for more federal funding and presence in the Artic to support security and sovereignty in the region. The Canadian Coast Guard maintains a year-round presence in the Arctic. Our vessels provide services throughout the North during the navigable season, including environmental response, search and rescue, and icebreaking in support of safety, security, and community resupply in the north.

Key messages

• Canada’s maritime security is a joint effort between multiple government departments and agencies, including the Canadian Coast Guard, National Defence, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, Transport Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
• The Canadian Coast Guard works closely with its national maritime security partners to gather maritime domain awareness information in support of national sovereignty and security.
• This includes the important role the Canadian Coast Guard plays in the Canadian Arctic, where our icebreakers are often the only federal presence.
• We are currently working to build our fleet of the future through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is key to ensuring our personnel have the modern ships they require to deliver our mandate across Canada, today and well into the future.
• This includes the procurement of two Polar Icebreakers, six Program Icebreakers, two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, and up to sixteen Multi-Purpose Icebreaking Vessels.

Canadian Coast Guard fleet renewal / icebreakers

Issue

The Government of Canada announced the National Shipbuilding Strategy in June 2010 — building Made-In-Canada ships for the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy. Investment in the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet ensures that our personnel have the equipment required to continue their vital work while providing opportunities for Canadian shipyards and suppliers, and reinvigorating domestic supply chains.

Key messages

• The Government of Canada is investing in the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet.
• These modern ships will ensure the Canadian Coast Guard has the ships they need to carry out their vital operations and serve Canadians.
• Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, investments in the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet are providing opportunities for Canadian shipyards across the country, helping to create skilled jobs, boosting our economy, and reinvigorating domestic supply chains.
• This includes the construction of two new Polar Icebreakers — the CCGS Appatuuk [(uck like luck) uck-pa-two-k (or toque)] and the CCGS Imnaryuaq [(im like Tim) im-nah-you-ack]— designed to operate year-round in Canada’s North to support northern communities, Arctic sovereignty and high Arctic science.
• The Canadian Coast Guard is adding a new Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel — the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk [gnaw-la nah-paw-look]— to its fleet.
• The Canadian Coast Guard is also adding a new Near-Shore Fishing Research Vessel. The vessel will be equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system with a battery energy storage system to reduces fuel consumption, the first of its kind in the Canadian Coast Guard.
• To date, 18 small vessels and three large vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and many more are under construction across Canada.

MSC Baltic III Grounding

Issue

On February 15, 2025, the cargo ship MSC Baltic III ran aground approximately 12 nautical miles outside the entrance to Bay of Islands, NL. The ship was carrying approximately 1.7 million litres of heavy fuel and marine gas oil, as well as polymeric beads, which are considered dangerous goods.

Key messages

• The Canadian Coast Guard remains on-site of the MSC Baltic III grounding and is working with a salvage company to remove contaminants from the vessel as quickly as possible.
• Bad weather in the area has consistently delayed operations.

• As of May 6, 2025 three frac tanks on the deck of the MSC Baltic III were successfully emptied and transferred to a barge, and 35 cargo containers have been removed from the vessel, including the polymeric beads.
• No additional pollution has been observed since April. However, with a vessel of this size and the hull damage sustained, the Canadian Coast Guard expects to see small amounts of residual oil escape the vessel over time.
• Building on our existing pollution prevention measures, additional precautions are being taken including the proactive deployment of booms to contain potential pollutants whenever oil heating, pumping, and transfer are taking place.
• The Canadian Coast Guard, together with our federal and provincial partners, is working with the owner and operator of the MSC Baltic III, and the salvage teams they have employed, to mitigate the impact of this incident.

Aquaculture Management

Issue

Aquaculture receives a high level of public interest, and views of Canadians on aquaculture are varied and regionally focused. In Atlantic Canada, the provinces are the lead regulator, and aquaculture is seen as an important part of the economy in many coastal communities.

In BC, where DFO is the lead regulator, the Government of Canada is implementing a ban on open net-pen salmon aquaculture in coastal areas by June 30, 2029. Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) is the federal lead for the aquaculture transition plan in BC. Views on the transition are polarized.

Key messages

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) works closely with Indigenous groups, federal and provincial partners, stakeholders, and industry to sustainably manage aquaculture in Canada in a way that minimizes or eliminates risks to wild fish.
• While DFO is the lead regulator for aquaculture in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, in the rest of Canada, the provinces are the lead regulators. DFO and provinces use the best available science and expert advice to inform decisions related to sustainable aquaculture.

On Transition from Open-Net Pens in British Columbia:

• The Government of Canada supports an innovative and thriving sustainable aquaculture sector in British Columbia in close collaboration with the province, First Nations, and the aquaculture industry.
• In June 2024, the Government of Canada announced the implementation of a ban on open net-pen salmon aquaculture in coastal British Columbia by June 30, 2029, and a draft transition plan was released in September 2024.
• We are engaging with First Nations, stakeholders, and impacted communities on the draft plan, and a final transition plan, led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development, will be published in 2025 following these important discussions.
• DFO is leading on proposed amendments to the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations to enact the ban that would come into force on July 1, 2029.
• DFO is also responsible for overseeing the phase-down of open net-pen salmon aquaculture until the ban is fully implemented, including the management of licence regimes, monitoring and reporting on operations.
• The Government of Canada will ensure a responsible transition that will encourage the further adoption of innovative and clean aquaculture technologies for a sustainable future.

MSX

Issue

MSX disease, or multinucleate sphere unknown (MSX), affects both wild and cultured oysters, preventing them from thriving due to decreased rates of growth and increased rates of oyster mortality.

While not a food safety concern, MSX disease in oysters poses a serious threat to Canada’s oyster industry. MSX was detected in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick in 2024, and was previously detected in Nova Scotia in 2002.

In August 2024, DFO announced approximately $1M in funding to help advance MSX science research and in November 2024, DFO and the Province of P.E.I. co-chaired an MSX Science Summit to help identify and address scientific knowledge gaps and areas for further research.

Key messages

• MSX poses no risks to human health or food safety but is a serious disease for oysters. It can cause significant oyster mortality and reduce the production and harvest of both cultured and wild oysters.
• DFO continues to support critical science research on this Issue. Last year DFO announced approximately $1M in funding to help advance MSX science research.
• We also co-chaired an MSX Science Summit with the province of Prince Edward Island in November 2024, to identify and address scientific knowledge gaps and areas for further research.
• To help manage the spread of MSX in Atlantic Canada, DFO continues to regulate oyster movement controls though the Introduction and Transfers (I&T) licencing program, in collaboration with provincial authorities and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

North Atlantic Right Whales

Issue

Since 2017, the Government of Canada has put in place robust fishery management measures to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW) from entanglements in fishing gear. Canada needs to demonstrate that it is taking action to protect NARWs to avoid trade implications under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, which comes into force in December 31, 2025.

Key messages

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is taking strong action to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whales.
• We have put in place measures to prevent fishing gear entanglements. One significant measure is our closure protocols, which apply wherever and whenever North Atlantic right whales are detected, based on our comprehensive visual and acoustic right whale surveillance program.
• We are grateful for harvesters’ continued support in implementing closures when they occur.
• We are also active in addressing lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear in right whale hot spots in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Since 2020, the Department has supported the retrieval of 40,936 units of gear from Canadian waters.
• DFO is developing a five-year Whalesafe Gear Strategy to further implement lower-breaking strength and rope on-demand fishing gear in Canada, with a long-term goal of advancing ropeless fishing gear to prevent entanglements. The strategy will be finalized in spring 2025.
• To comply with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act and maintain access to U.S. markets, Canada must demonstrate that its fishery management efforts effectively address marine mammal by-catch, including right whale entanglements. We are confident we are meeting, if not exceeding, this standard.