Nature is a key part of Canada’s national identity. The health of our aquatic environment and the wildlife within it supports our culture, well-being and the economy in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada. Yet some of the species that find their home in the waters, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and marshes throughout Newfoundland and Labrador are at risk and need help to survive. We must continue to take action to protect them.
In support of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation, and at the request of the Prince Edward Island (PEI) Abegweit First Nation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is renaming the small craft harbour at Savage Harbour, PEI.
With the longest coastline in the world, Canada’s coastal communities rely on the fish and seafood industry as an integral contributor to local and regional economies. This is why the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick is pleased to announce funding support to Atlantique Nord Innovation Inc. in Shippagan for a project benefiting seafood processing through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF).
Zebra Mussels are an aquatic invasive species that reproduce very quickly, cause negative ecological impacts, deteriorate infrastructure, and negatively impact the economy. Since being introduced into the Laurentian Great Lakes region in the 1980s, Zebra Mussels have spread to southern Ontario, south and central Manitoba, southern Québec and New Brunswick, and are a growing threat.
Chilcotin Region, British Columbia – On July 30, a significant landslide occurred in the lower Chilcotin River, a major tributary to the Fraser River, and severely disrupted the river habitat, blocking upstream migration of adult Chinook and Sockeye salmon, and degrading water quality.
Bella Coola, BC – Protecting, conserving and restoring wild Pacific salmon stocks in British Columbia is a key priority for the Government of Canada. Pacific salmon hatcheries have a key role to play in this effort and are critical in aiding the recovery of vulnerable stocks.
Pacific salmon are under threat due to climate change, habitat degradation and other pressures. In British Columbia, some endangered and at-risk populations have dropped dramatically and could be at risk of disappearing completely. Hatcheries, which incubate, rear and release Pacific salmon to live alongside their wild counterparts, are a key component in supporting and restoring these vulnerable populations.
Port Hardy, British Columbia - An investigation by fishery officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Whale Protection Unit, Fraser Coastal Detachment, has resulted in a hefty fine for Vancouver-based River Road Films Ltd. and their drone operator for operating a drone too close to Northern Resident Killer Whales (NRKWs).
