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

On this page

• Fishing industry / U.S. tariffs
• China tariffs
• U.S. relationship / DFO and CCG
• Elver fishery
• Moderate livelihood
• Marine conservation
• Canadian Coast Guard presence in the Arctic
• Canadian Coast Guard fleet renewal / icebreakers
• Aquaculture management
• Msx
• North Atlantic right whales

Fishing industry / U.S. tariffs

Issue

The U.S. is Canada’s largest market for seafood products. Any trade disruption would have significant sector-wide impacts on the livelihoods of Canadian harvesters and processors, particularly on the east coast, which accounts for the majority of our exports to the U.S.

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.

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.

General messages on U.S. Tariffs (provided by Global Affairs Canada/Department of Finance):

• The tariffs imposed by the United States on Canadian goods are unjustified and unreasonable.
• These tariffs are all the more unjustified given over the last month the federal government has made significant progress on the implementation of Canada’s Border Plan to strengthen safety at the border.
• The U.S. tariffs will impact Canadians and Americans alike. They will increase costs for consumers, put thousands of jobs at risk, and weaken North America’s competitiveness in the global economy.
• The first phase of Canada’s response includes tariffs on $30 billion in goods imported from the U.S., effective as of 12:01 a.m., March 4, 2025, when the U.S tariffs were applied.
• In response to tariffs imposed by the United States on Canadian steel and aluminum goods, the Government of Canada is following a dollar-for-dollar approach, and is imposing, as of 12:01 am, March 13, 2025, 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on steel products worth $12.6 billion and aluminum products worth $3 billion, as well as additional imported U.S. goods worth $14.2 billion, for a total of $29.8 billion, in order to match the value of affected Canadian steel and aluminum exports. 

China tariffs

Issue

On Mach 8, 2025, China announced the conclusion of an “anti- discrimination” investigation that it initiated against Canada 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

• Canada does not accept the premise of China’s investigation, nor of course its findings.
• Canada cannot ignore the threat posed by China’s non-market policies and practices, which creates artificially lower production costs, significant market distortions, and an unequal playing field when competing with Chinese firms.
• The Government of Canada will always stand up for Canadian businesses and workers and defend them from the harmful effects of unfair trade policies.
• Canada remains open to engaging in constructive dialogue with Chinese officials to address our respective trade concerns

U.S. relationship / DFO and CCG

Issue

Recent events related to Canada’s relationship with the U.S. has 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 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 3, 2025, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced that the elver fishery would open in 2025, with the opening date to be finalized in consultation with licence holders.

Key messages

• An orderly and well-regulated elver fishery is essential for the long-term sustainability of this high-value species.
• As of March 1, 2025, there are three categories of elver licences-you need a licence to fish, possess or export elver. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has also put in place a tracking app that all fishing and possession licence holders are required to use. Together, the new elver regulations and the tracking app will help reduce unlawful harvesting by making it easier to track lawfully harvested elver and harder to possess, sell and export unlawfully harvested elver.
• 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.
• Fishing, possessing or exporting elver without a licence will not be tolerated.
• Fishery officers will be 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.

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.

Indigenous community perspectives vary. Some criticize the Department for “attempting to sell them back 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.

Key messages

• DFO has committed $259.4 million over three years (2024-2027) 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.
• This funding for commercial fisheries will help communities to acquire access themselves rather than for DFO to acquire the access on their behalf.
• 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.
• Each community has a unique vision for the implementation of their right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood. 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.
• Participation in the program is voluntary, and it does not define or limit the right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood.

Marine conservation

Issue

Under Budget 2021, the Government of Canada made a historic investment to protect the health of Canada’s oceans, including $976.8 million in funding over five years to reach ambitious marine conservation targets through the establishment of marine protected areas and other effective conservation measures, such as marine refuges.

Key messages

• The Government of Canada is committed to conserving 30 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2030.
• Healthy oceans will help secure a healthy future, supporting a sustainable economy for all.
• Canada has made tremendous progress in ocean conservation. By working with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, as well as coastal communities and marine- related industries, Canada has progressed from less than one per cent to over 15 per cent protection 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 (MDA) 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 renew our fleet of the future through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is key to ensuring our personnel have the modern and advanced ships they require 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 Canadian Coast Guard have 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 is 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 and the CCGS Imnaryuaq — designed to operate year-round in Canada’s North to support northern communities, Arctic sovereignty and high Arctic science.
• The Canadian Coast Guard is also adding a new Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel — the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk to its fleet.
• The Canadian Coast 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.

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 is dedicated to supporting an innovative and thriving sustainable aquaculture sector in British Columbia in close collaboration with the province, First Nations, and the aquaculture industry.
• We are actively engaging with First Nations, stakeholders, and impacted communities on a draft transition plan.
• A final transition plan, led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development, will be published in 2025 following these important discussions, and will contain more specific details, including any supports.
• The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring 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 X (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 has been detected in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

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.

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.

DFO will announce the 2025 measures very soon, and shortly after Canada’s Whalesafe Gear Strategy. 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 early 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.