Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced a next step in strengthening the long-term conservation and rebuilding of wild Pacific salmon with the expansion of mass marking of all DFO hatchery-origin Chinook salmon in southern British Columbia.
The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) was launched in 2021 to protect, conserve, and restore wild Pacific salmon in British Columbia and Yukon.
Wild Pacific salmon are central to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of British Columbia and Yukon. They are a lifeforce for ecosystems, a foundation for coastal and inland communities, and a species of deep significance to Indigenous Peoples.
On Saturday, March 28, the Government of Canada and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association celebrated the establishment of the Qikiqtait and Sarvarjuaq Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Nunavut, bringing Canada one step closer to protecting 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. Partners also marked the recent signing of an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement covering these marine areas as well as terrestrial areas in the Belcher Islands, which are soon to be designated as Inuit Protected and Conserved Areas by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
Small craft harbours are critically important to coastal communities and to Canada’s fishing economies. In the Arctic, these harbours serve as community marine infrastructure that enhance safety, improve access and contribute to Canada’s broader Arctic sovereignty.
Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced that the 2026 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the Newfoundland and Labrador Snow crab fishery will be 61,004 tonnes, representing a 3% decrease from 2025.
Iqaluit, Nunavut – The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, will make an important announcement on federal investments in small craft harbours to help strengthen northern communities.
North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered large whale species in the world. With recent population estimates at roughly 380, they face serious threats to their survival and recovery from the risk of fishing gear entanglements and vessel strikes. The Government of Canada continues to implement measures to protect this endangered species in close consultation with industry.
The Government of Canada is committed to sustainable and orderly fisheries that support rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities. These fisheries rely on the best available science advice. In Southwest Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Southwest New Brunswick, the elver fishery is an important source of income for commercial licence holders, and First Nations communities.