Moncton, New Brunswick – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, on behalf of the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard, along with the Honourable Jamie Fox, Prince Edward Island Minister of Fisheries and Communities will hold a virtual press conference to make an announcement related to the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises that the start of the groundfish ice fishing season on the Saguenay Fjord has been delayed and will now begin on January 23, 2021 and end on March 7, 2021. This decision, taken in conjunction with the authorities in charge of this activity, was made necessary for safety reasons. The very mild temperature currently prevents the formation of a safe ice cover for ice fishing enthusiasts.
Lost, abandoned and discarded fishing gear, or ‘ghost gear,’ is one of the largest causes of marine pollution today. In response to this growing issue, the Government of Canada launched the Ghost Gear Fund in January 2020, supporting 26 projects to retrieve and reduce ghost gear in our oceans. Estimates show that these funded projects, plus others, have since removed 63 tonnes of lost or discarded fishing gear from coastal waters in Atlantic Canada in 2020 – the equivalent weight of 11 elephants.
Québec, Quebec – Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today that the groundfish ice fishing season on the Saguenay Fjord will begin on January 9 and end on March 7, 2021.
Vancouver, British Columbia – Aquaculture plays an important role in Canada’s economy and the Government of Canada is committed to managing it responsibly and sustainably. To do so, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration, including consultations with First Nations to ensure it is the right fit for the community and the area.
Marine finfish aquaculture facilities in the Discovery Islands are located on the traditional territory of the Homalco, Klahoose, K’ómoks, Kwaikah, Tla’amin, We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will be issuing 18 month licences for 19 existing aquaculture facilities in the Discovery Islands (DI) with the intention that this would be the last time licences would be issued.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador are pleased to announce funding support to the provincial harvesting, processing, and aquaculture sectors through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.
Canada’s fisheries are the backbone of so many coastal communities and a driving force in our national economy. At the same time, the seafood sector is a rapidly shifting environment – competition is intensifying, consumers are increasingly emphasizing sustainability and quality. This is why the Government of Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador today is making strategic investments through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund. These funds will help the industry innovate, invest in new technology, and collaborate with scientists, marketers, and other institutions in order to maximize the value of their product.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting our aquatic ecosystems. We are developing new partnerships and investing in research that is improving our knowledge and generating new technologies to mitigate and prevent marine incidents, such as oil spills. Specifically, we are investing in research to understand the threat of diluted bitumen exposure to the health of salmon, which helps us better prepare and protect our ecosystems on the West Coast.
Few species have captured Canadians’ hearts and minds as strongly as the endangered Southern Resident killer whale. Known for their beauty, intelligence, and cultural significance, these creatures are facing unprecedented stressors directly related to human activities. With only 74 individuals remaining, it has never been more critical to understand the threats affecting these iconic mammals and their environment.
