Restore, Maintain, Thrive: Canada’s national strategy to ensure the future of Atlantic salmon

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is seeking your help to finalize Restore, Maintain, Thrive: Canada's national strategy to ensure the future of Atlantic salmon.

Over the past decade, DFO has heard a growing sense of urgency and concern from Indigenous peoples, Indigenous organizations, partners, and stakeholders about the state of wild Atlantic salmon. In response, the Government of Canada has committed to the development of a conservation strategy, to restore and rebuild wild Atlantic salmon populations and their habitats.

By working together, we can achieve better outcomes for Atlantic salmon, salmon habitat, and ecosystems.  To this end, DFO will be creating new ways to engage and consult with Indigenous peoples, Indigenous organizations, partners, and stakeholders, while respecting existing processes and obligations.

Atlantic salmon engagement: an ongoing conversation

Engagement on the Strategy is best described as an ongoing conversation, which started in summer 2021 and will lead to the publication of the strategy itself. Once published, ongoing conversation and collaboration will continue over the lifetime of the Strategy.

Early engagement

Engagement activities began in July 2021, with a series of bilateral discussions about Atlantic salmon conservations with Indigenous peoples, Indigenous organizations, and key stakeholders. Discussions held during this early engagement period focused on the near-completion of the Wild Atlantic Salmon Conservation Policy Implementation Plan (2019-2021) and lessons learned throughout its implementation.

Engagement on the draft elements of the Strategy

Draft elements of the Strategy were presented to Indigenous peoples, Indigenous organizations, partners and stakeholders for discussion, and available to the general public through the ‘Let's Talk Atlantic salmon’ web-based platform. DFO published a What We Heard report based on all feedback received throughout the engagement process in September 2023.

Engagement on the draft Strategy (Now)

Based on what we heard from many months of engagement, DFO has completed the first draft of the  Strategy. The complete first draft is now available for review and comment through the online engagement portal. A variety of other engagement opportunities may be made available to Indigenous people, Indigenous organizations, partners, and stakeholders, to meet the obligations, needs and expectations of these groups.

Engagement and collaboration are fundamental to the continued development and future implementation of the Strategy. Discussions will continue throughout the lifetime of the Strategy.

Let's Talk Atlantic salmon

The Let's Talk Atlantic Salmon platform allows people and organizations to share their views throughout the development of the Strategy. 

Access the Let's Talk Atlantic Salmon platform and see current engagement opportunities.

Who is the focus of this engagement

The Government of Canada will engage with:

• First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (Indigenous peoples) following mutually agreed upon engagement protocols across Atlantic Canada and Quebec
• Indigenous organizations
• Partners and stakeholders
• Canadians generally interested in Atlantic salmon, conservation, or Canada's natural biodiversity

Related information

• Engaging on a strategy to restore and rebuild Atlantic salmon - What we heard
• Wild Atlantic Salmon Conservation Policy

Contact us

Fisheries Policy
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6
Email: DFO.AtlanticSalmon-Saumonatlantique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca