Fishing boats moored on docks at a small Atlantic fishing community in Newfoundland, Canada.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
Canada's federal government has launched a review of key fisheries regulations, saying the move is intended to support independent fishing businesses and reduce administrative burdens on harvesters.
The initiative, announced by Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, will examine the rules governing Canada’s inshore fisheries, alongside other regulatory changes designed to give fleets more flexibility in their operations.
Canada’s fish and seafood sector contributes more than CAD $8bn (€5.5bn / $5.9bn) to the economy, supports over 63,000 jobs and exports about CAD $8.5bn (€5.9bn / $6.3bn) in products annually, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The review will focus on regulations intended to ensure that inshore fishing licences remain under the control of independent harvesters rather than processors, buyers or other third parties. Under existing rules, licence holders must personally fish under their licence and are subject to restrictions on how the licence may be used, and how it can benefit others.
The Canadian government said that early engagement with harvesters and industry stakeholders has already begun, and that feedback gathered during the process will inform wider consultations and potential changes to the regulatory framework.
“Fishing is more than just an economic driver for rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities, it’s a source of pride, and part of who we are,” Thompson said.
“If we want today’s harvesters, and the next generation, to keep making a living on the water, we need rules that reflect what’s happening,” she argued.
Alongside the review, the department is preparing amendments to rules governing how long fixed fishing gear can remain unattended in the water. Current regulations in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Nunavut generally limit so-called “soak times” to around 72 hours.
The government said a more flexible approach could allow soak times to be set on a fishery-by-fishery or fleet basis, which it argues would better reflect operating conditions offshore and reduce safety risks for crews.
Further changes are planned on the Pacific coast under the West Coast Commercial Fisheries Modernization initiative, which aims to increase harvesters’ control over their fishing activities and enable them to retain a greater share of the economic value generated from their catch.
As part of that process, the government plans to establish a licence and quota registry intended to improve transparency within the system and support business planning for harvesters.
The government said the reforms draw on feedback from harvesters, Indigenous communities and industry organisations, and that consultations will continue as the policy review develops.
The Canadian Government also recently announced it was launching a national strategy to encourage the use of whale-safe fishing gear, as part of a drive to protect endangered whale populations while supporting coastal fishing communities.