Policies on Fisheries Act Authorizations related to Cetaceans in Captivity and Reproductive Materials of Cetaceans: Closed consultation

Fisheries and Oceans Canada sought feedback on its draft policies on Fisheries Act Authorizations related to Cetaceans in Captivity and Reproductive Materials of Cetaceans, to further understand stakeholder views and interests on the subject matter. The input collected helped validate or improve the policies and ensured that they are based on appropriate principles that matter to Canadians.

Who was the focus of this consultation

The Government of Canada engaged with:

• Indigenous peoples
• Canadian aquariums
• animal rights groups
• provinces and territories

The Government of Canada also looked forward to receiving comments from marine mammal scientists or veterinarians, academic institutions, and the general public.

Key questions for discussion

Your ideas and input were sought around a suite of draft Policies on Fisheries Act Authorizations related to Cetaceans in Captivity and Reproductive Materials of Cetaceans, which provided guidance for the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard to grant or deny authorizations regarding:

• specific circumstances under which a wild cetacean may be taken it into captivity;
• the import or export of a living cetacean, or reproductive materials of cetaceans, into or out of Canada;
• scientific research with respect to cetaceans; and
• circumstances where a cetacean may be kept in captivity for welfare reasons.

Related information

• What we heard report: Public consultations for Policies on Fisheries Act Authorizations related to Cetaceans in Captivity and Reproductive Materials of Cetacean
• Final: Policies on Fisheries Act Authorizations related to Cetaceans in Captivity and Reproductive Materials of Cetaceans
• Draft: Policies on Fisheries Act Authorizations related to Cetaceans in Captivity and Reproductive Materials of Cetaceans