Small craft harbours are the heart of many coastal communities, bringing people together in work and play, while supporting jobs in the fish and seafood industry for over 45,000 Canadians. As part of Budget 2024, $463.3 million over three years will be invested for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours. This is on top of the Department’s annual budget of $90 million for these harbours.
Small craft harbours are at the heart of many coastal communities, bringing people together for work and leisure, while supporting jobs in the fish and seafood industry for more than 45,00 Canadians.
Pacific salmon play an enormous cultural, economic and environmental role on the West Coast of Canada. These fish have complex life cycles which include migrating between freshwater and marine environments. Protecting Pacific salmon species and aquatic ecosystems in Canada remains at the forefront of our priorities.
Today, the fishery officers and crew of the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Sir Wilfrid Laurier made a safe return to port in Victoria, B.C., having successfully completed this year’s mission to detect and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the North-Pacific. This is a region integral to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, under which Canada is committed to upholding its international obligations.
Seal harvesting is an important and valuable activity for many Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. In Canada, it is managed in a sustainable, well-regulated, and humane way that supports Canada’s Indigenous, rural, remote, and coastal communities.
Quebec’s fish and seafood industry is facing increasing competition and the need to adapt to an ever changing market. Working together through the Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF), the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec are helping the industry to innovate and reach its full potential.
Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier announced that for the fourth consecutive year, an interim authorization has been issued to Wasoqopa’q (Acadia), Annapolis Valley, Bear River and Glooscap First Nations. This interim authorization will see community members fishing and selling their catch in pursuit of a moderate livelihood during the commercial seasons in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 33, 34 and 35, without increasing overall fishing effort.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recognizes that fisheries, oceans, aquatic habitat and marine waterways are of great social, cultural, spiritual and economic importance to many Indigenous peoples. Working with Indigenous peoples as they increase their capacity to monitor fisheries is key to providing dependable, timely, and accessible information for sustainable fisheries management.
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses a significant risk to global fish stocks in the North Pacific Ocean, and is considered to be a potential driver of Pacific salmon declines.
A Powell River lake-based aquaculture site that cultivates rainbow trout has been fined following a lengthy investigation conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
