On September 21, Hollow Water First Nation members celebrated the official opening of a new and much needed small craft harbour for their community on eastern Lake Winnipeg. Chief Larry Barker spoke of the importance of this new infrastructure, which improves access to the community’s fish processing plant and provides safer docking for vessels. The harbour has been operational since May 2023, and is the newest harbour in service in the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) national system of small craft harbours.
Recent investigations by fishery officers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) into the Boundary Bay commercial crab fleet have resulted in several convictions in Surrey Provincial Court. Four vessel masters received fines and forfeitures totalling over $287,000. One captain also received a first-ever fishing prohibition.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) officials remain actively engaged in Southwest Nova Scotia, meeting with Indigenous harvesters, groups and organizations, as well as commercial fishing associations. Open, honest and clear dialogue remains the best way to raise concerns and to find solutions for everyone involved in the lobster fishery.
Since last summer’s detection of Zebra Mussels in Lake Temiscouata, Quebec, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and its provincial, municipal, non-governmental and Indigenous partners have been closely monitoring New Brunswick’s lakes and rivers for any new presence of the aquatic invasive species (AIS).
On June 28, 2023, the numbered company 1269039 BC Ltd. (multiple partners)—which owns the Canadian commercial fishing vessel, Ocean Provider—was sentenced in Port Alberni Provincial Court. The company pleaded guilty to fishing for albacore tuna between July 22 and August 15, 2022, without the authority of a valid licence, contrary to the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993. This is a serious violation of the Fisheries Act and Canada’s international fisheries obligations.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is continuously improving its understanding of seal and sea lion populations and their potential impacts on fish stocks. The Department will provide over $643,900 in funding to Indigenous groups, industry, and academia to learn more about the role seals and sea lions play in our aquatic ecosystems.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is committed to a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognizing rights, respect, collaboration, and partnership. As part of that commitment, we are working with First Nations harvesters so that they can exercise their Supreme Court-affirmed Treaty right to fish through various DFO-authorized fisheries. These fisheries include food, social and ceremonial (FSC), and communal commercial fisheries, including interim understandings reached to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood.
New fisheries support economic growth and innovation in coastal communities across the country. The Government of Canada is committed to increasing opportunity in the fishing and fish processing sectors to drive economic development without compromising conservation.
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia – On behalf of the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister Lebouthillier, along with Allan MacLean from Louisbourg Seafoods, will make an announcement about the whelk fishery in Eastern Nova Scotia.
