Departmental Plan 2024-2025

Operating Context

Through sound science, forward-looking policy, and operational and service excellence, DFO-Coast Guard employees carry out a broad mandate in support of Canadians. This includes ensuring:

• the sustainable management of Canadian fisheries and aquaculture
• continued support for fishers in coastal and Indigenous communities to enable prosperity from fish and seafood
• the protection of Canada’s oceans and aquatic ecosystems
• that the Canadian maritime economy and all mariners operate in safe and navigable waters
• that Canada’s civilian fleet can respond to on-water incidents and continue to support its clients

Canada has an abundance of ecologically diverse and economically significant freshwater, marine, and coastal areas. The Department’s overarching goal is to protect Canada’s oceans, coasts, waterways, and fisheries, and to ensure these remain healthy for future generations.

Factors influencing DFO-Coast Guard’s ever-evolving operational environment include climate change and severe weather events, growing interest in and accessibility of the Arctic, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, shifting workforce demographic, erosion of social cohesion, technological innovations, and variable geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions.

The Department recognizes that economic conditions, climate change, and geopolitical instability have presented a challenge for Canada and the world. DFO remains committed to supporting our fisheries and aquaculture, as well as supporting Indigenous participation in fisheries during these challenging times by reprioritizing and re-planning new and existing work to continue delivering its services. Additionally, the Department continues to take necessary steps to ensure that marine activities can continue to operate safely and effectively within Canadian waters year-round. The Department is also committed to the growth of Canada’s blue economy to drive sustainable economic growth for freshwater and ocean sectors and coastal communities while meeting conservation commitments and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Another significant priority for the Department is supporting stable, prosperous fisheries through the continued implementation of the Fisheries Act.

In an effort to continuously improve its operations, the Department assesses how it delivers programs and services to clients and stakeholders while fulfilling its responsibility to steward maritime and marine resources.