Amendments to the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations

Enabling act: Fisheries Act

Description of the objective

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), along with the provincial authorities of Nova Scotia (NS), New Brunswick (NB) and Prince Edward Island (PEI) responsible for administering portions of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations (MPFR), have identified a suite of proposed changes to the MPFR. Among other things, the proposed changes relate to:

• creating opportunities to fish for species not named in the regulations including menhaden;
• expanding night fishing opportunities and allowing for fishing from a bridge  in some locations;
• strengthening controls over the use of fish as bait to further protect fish stocks and aquatic ecosystems;
• designating striped bass as a sportfish;
• introducing a close time for jigging in NB and PEI;
• enabling the separate management of Atlantic sturgeon versus shortnose sturgeon and adding a possession limit for each;
• bringing periwinkle harvesting under the authority of the MPFR; and
• modernizing the MPFR to address new fishing technologies and practices such as the use of drones and clarifying the prohibition on the use of artificial light to attract fish.

Indication of business impacts

There may be business impacts. The “One-for-One” Rule and/or Small Business Lens may apply.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

In Canada’s Maritime provinces (i.e., NS, NB and PEI), DFO and the Provinces collaboratively manage recreational fisheries via Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). These MOUs delegate fishery management responsibilities for certain species to the Provinces. As such, the proposed regulatory amendments are being developed in coordination with these provincial governments.

Public consultation opportunities

Consultations with Indigenous organizations, stakeholder groups, and the public took place in 2023 and 2024.

The Department anticipates pre-publishing the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I, for a 30-day public comment period in 2025.

Further information

N/A

Departmental contact

Brady Stevenson
Senior advisor, Maritimes regions
Phone: 902-237-3451
Email: brady.stevenson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan: 2024