Hamilton, Ontario - On behalf of the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development joined Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports) to announce the conclusion of an agreement that will ensure the long-term preservation of this historic landmark.
Proactive conservation measures are critical to sustain a healthy Pacific prawn population today, and to restore abundant stocks for future generations. Close collaboration between the Government of Canada and harvesters is key to getting this important work done.
The sustainable and responsible management of our ocean ecosystems is a priority for me as Minister, and our government is committed to protecting and regenerating wild salmon stocks. In December 2020, Minister Jordan announced the licences for open-net pen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands would only be renewed until the summer of 2022. This has resulted in a reduction of more than 3.5 million farmed salmon in the Discovery Islands since December 2020, and I will ensure the decision to phase out these 19 open-net pen farms is carried on to completion.
On November 12, 2021, in the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, Scott Stanley Matthew Steer — a repeat offender under Canada’s Fisheries Act — was handed a lifetime prohibition against fishing and a prohibition against being onboard a fishing vessel.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) supports fishing opportunities for communities, and is firmly committed to the conservation, protection, and regeneration of our marine environment and the lifeforms they sustain. Herring are a forage fish, an important food source to other keystone species like Pacific salmon, and a critical part of the ecosystem on the Pacific coast.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is proud to welcome the latest troop of graduates to the ranks of Canada’s contingent of over 600 fishery officers. Canada’s fishery officers are professionally trained peace officers working in communities across our country to conserve and protect our freshwater and marine fisheries resources and habitats.
Ottawa, Ontario – With the devastating impacts of climate change on display around the world, the Government of Canada is more committed than ever to working with industry, governments, and communities across the country to protect and restore our oceans. Canada’s oceans are home to a rich diversity of species, habitats, and ecosystems that need our help in order to thrive. They feed our families, support important industries, and connect us all.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - As a result of a 24-month major case investigation in the Sambro area of Nova Scotia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has laid 66 charges related to the illegal possession and sale of harvested halibut.
Through the Ghost Gear Program, the Government of Canada has been working with partners to rid our oceans of ghost gear and create new solutions to reduce fishing debris. In 2021, the Ghost Gear Program provided additional support to 37 projects, many of which focus on increasing Canada’s recycling capacity for end-of-life fishing gear, and identifying and removing ghost gear from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Fraser River in British Columbia.
Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear, or ‘ghost gear,’ is a leading cause of marine debris around the world and has damaging impacts on global fish stocks and marine mammals. Through the Ghost Gear Program, the Government of Canada is working with partners to rid our oceans of ghost gear and create new solutions to reduce fishing debris. This work will help conserve and restore our marine environment to benefit marine life and coastal communities.
