Share your views: Federal Aquaculture Act

The Department thanks all those who submitted comments.  As with all comments on the proposed Aquaculture Act, the Department will take the time to review and carefully consider the input.

Learn more  about ongoing engagement with Indigenous partners to inform the development of a proposed legislation that reflects Indigenous perspectives.

The purpose of this discussion paper is to gather further advice and direction from Canadians on provisions that we could address in a new Aquaculture Act.

Discussion Paper: A Canadian Aquaculture Act
(PDF - 1.1 MB)

Discussion Paper: A Canadian Aquaculture Act HTML version

Join in: How to participate

Who is the focus of this consultation

The Government of Canada will engage with:

• the Canadian public
• Indigenous peoples
• provincial and territorial governments
• industry members
• impacted stakeholders, such as environmental non-governmental organizations

Your input will help to establish aquaculture-specific legislation that will modernize and improve aquaculture management in Canada.

Key questions for discussion

We’re working closely with provincial and territorial partners on the development of proposed legislation through the Strategic Management Committee on Aquaculture under the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers.

Based on input received from by Indigenous peoples, partners, stakeholders and the general public through previous engagement, the proposed Aquaculture Act is expected to:

• define the term aquaculture in legislation
• recognize the need for clarity and stability for responsible economic growth of the aquaculture sector
• ensure environmental protections enshrined in the Fisheries Act are included and specific to aquaculture
• develop enforcement mechanisms specific to aquaculture
• respect provincial and territorial jurisdictions
• respect roles and responsibilities articulated in treaties and other rights reconciliation arrangements

Please refer to the discussion paper and provide feedback on the questions included or any other issues you feel should be addressed in the proposed Aquaculture Act.

Related information

• Federal Aquaculture Act
• What We Heard Report: Proposed federal Aquaculture Act

Contact us

Aquaculture Management Directorate
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent St (10th floor)
Ottawa ON K1A 0E6

Email: AquacultureConsultations.XMAR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Privacy Statement

Your participation in the activity is voluntary and choosing not to participate will have no impact on you. Personal information may be collected under the authority of the Financial Administration Act and the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity for the purpose of obtaining perspective from the public in the development of the Aquaculture Act. The feedback provided is subject to the right of access under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act. You have the right to the correction of, access to, and protection of your personal information under the Privacy Act if you have provided any, and to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada about this statement or DFO’s handling of your information.