2022-23 Departmental Results Report

Ghost Gear Fund

The Ghost Gear Fund encourages Canadians to take actions to reduce plastic in the marine environment. Each year, more than eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the world's oceans. Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), known as ghost gear, as well as plastic waste from aquaculture, are major contributors to the plastic debris problem. Recent studies indicate that ghost fishing gear may make up to 70% of all macro-plastics in the ocean by weight.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.1: “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution”

Marine spatial planning

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a process for managing ocean spaces to achieve ecological, economic, cultural and social objectives. We advance marine spatial planning in Canada in collaboration with other federal departments, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments as well as relevant stakeholders.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 14.1.1: “Proportion of marine and coastal areas conserved”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans”

Laboratories Canada

The Laboratories Canada strategy is creating world class, innovative and collaborative science research centres across the nation and will position Canada at the forefront of new discoveries, spark innovative ways of doing research and deliver on research priorities for Canadians.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.3: “Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels”

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative

In recent years, climate change, habitat loss and fishing pressures have negatively affected Pacific salmon at every stage of their lifecycle. The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) will guide a strategic and coordinated long term response to these issues, rooted in collaborative action, to stabilize and restore Pacific salmon and salmon habitat for the people, communities and ecosystems that depend upon their sustainability.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 14.2.1: “Proportion of fish stocks that are sustainably harvested”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics”

• introduced the Pacific Salmon Licence Retirement Program (LRP) in December 2022 and launched the Pacific Salmon Indigenous Communal Commercial Licence Alternation Program in February 2023, with the common goal of reducing harvest pressure and the size of the salmon harvesting fleet
• introduced the Derelict Vessel Mitigation and Gear Disposal Program for LRP participants
• provided funding to support new and innovative harvest opportunities for food, social and ceremonial (FSC) harvesting of Pacific salmon through partnership projects involving First Nations across British Columbia and Yukon
• worked closely with First Nations on planning activities towards new hatchery facility infrastructure in priority areas
• launched the Pacific Salmon Stewardship Directorate, which includes the Habitat Restoration Centre of Expertise, and seeks to increase DFO’s capacity in the areas of salmon rebuilding, habitat restoration, and salmon partnerships, and to ensure that collective salmon stewardship, rebuilding, and habitat restoration efforts are integrated
• began work on management frameworks for a mass marking and mark-selective (clipping fish fins in specific ways to identify them as permitted for harvesting) fisheries approach following engagement with First Nations, harvesters, and stakeholders
• advanced engagement on the development of collaboration processes, including those with British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and First Nations partners

Reaching Canada’s marine conservation targets

Canada has made considerable progress protecting our oceans and meeting our marine conservation targets. Canada is also a vocal advocate for advancing the protection of our global ocean.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 14.1.1: “Proportion of marine and coastal areas conserved”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.5: “By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

In 2022-23, DFO continued its important work towards the mandate commitment to conserve 25 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030, which will help to protect biodiversity for generations to come. As of February 2023, 14.66 per cent of Canada’s oceans were recognized as conserved and work progressed on advancing and identifying a number of new areas for protection.

In February 2023, 15 First Nations, DFO, and the Government of B.C. jointly announced the endorsement of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Action Plan for the Northern Shelf Bioregion. This Action Plan is a model of collaborative governance and provides a planned approach to the establishment of new MPAs in this area. It includes a proposed design for the network and recommendations for potential designation tools, conservation objectives, and implementation timelines for the protection of future sites.

Elimination of harmful fisheries subsidies

DFO continued its work to eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies, which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, through ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.6: “By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation”

The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted in June 2022 by the WTO. The agreement prohibits certain subsidies, notably those contributing to IUU fishing, those for fishing in unregulated areas and for species on the high seas, and certain subsidies related to overfished stocks.

Canada ratified the agreement in May 2023, becoming the fifth WTO member to do so. Canada's ratification of the agreement demonstrated Canada's strong commitment to protecting global fisheries and oceans resources. This was also the first environmental agreement to be negotiated at the WTO since its inception, a landmark achievement for the WTO.

United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)

Canada is a proud supporter of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade).

We’re working with domestic and international partners for a sustainable and healthy ocean by:

• advancing ocean science
• developing and sharing knowledge
• building infrastructure
• fostering relationships

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.a: “Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries”

In 2022-23, DFO, on behalf of Canada, continued to demonstrate leadership in advancing gender equity in ocean science in the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (“Ocean Decade”) and through the Department’s role as the Commonwealth Blue Charter Champion of Ocean Observation.

DFO provided financial support for programming related to gender equity in ocean science, which supported several graduate students interested in a career in ocean science as well as a variety of relevant events/webinars, and the development of resources to help advance gender equity in ocean science.

Canada’s Fisheries Funds

DFO programming supports innovation, sustainability, and the ability to meet the growing demands of a worldwide market in the fish and seafood sector through the delivery of three specific, cost-shared funds: the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF); the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF); and, the Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF).

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.b: “Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets”

In 2022–23, the AFF invested in 137 new projects with the aim of driving innovation throughout the Atlantic fish and seafood sector to improve the sector’s resiliency to the impacts of the changing economic and environmental conditions, including climate change. This represents a federal investment of over $23.5 million under the program’s Infrastructure and Innovation pillars.

The BCSRIF continued to prioritize funding for projects that relate to aquaculture and the changing environment, including climate change effects like drought, forest fires, and flooding. Of the 97 projects funded under BCSRIF, almost half were aimed at addressing ecosystem shifts and climate change.

The QFF approved 42 projects valued at a total of $6.2 million to adopt new technologies in the fish and seafood sector that aim to improve productivity and product quality and reduce fuel consumption.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated Fishing

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major contributor to declining fish stocks and marine habitat destruction. Globally, IUU fishing takes many forms both within nationally-controlled waters and on the high seas. DFO works with its international partners to support the rules-based international order that ensure sustainable international fisheries and oceans management.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.c: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of “The future we want”

In 2022-23, DFO worked with Global Affairs Canada to establish the Shared Ocean Fund, an initiative announced under Canada’s Indo Pacific Strategy. The goal of the Fund is to champion sustainable and healthy oceans through improved international ocean governance, work to strengthen and enforce the rules based order in the region, and support Indo Pacific states’ blue economy potential. This initiative received $84.3 million and heavily focuses on combatting IUU fishing through the use of the Dark Vessel Detection platform, which remotely identifies and tracks vessels whose location transmitting devices have been switched off.

DFO also led, alongside the United States and the United Kingdom, the establishment of the IUU-Action Alliance (IUU-AA) at the UN Ocean Conference in 2022. The IUU-AA is a group of 10 states and many non-governmental organizations committed to tackling IUU fishing through concrete actions and advocating for strong counter IUU policies.

Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk

The Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR) aims to support the recovery and protection of aquatic species at risk. The fund supports multi-species, place-based and threat-based stewardship actions that recover and protect aquatic species at risk.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 15: “Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 15.1.1: “Proportion of native wild species ranked secure or apparently secure according to the national extinction risk level”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 15.2.1: “Proportion of species at risk showing progress towards their population and distribution objectives”
• Global Indicator Framework target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species”

Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are fish, aquatic plants, and other organisms that can displace native species by competing for food, degrading habitats, and/or introducing diseases. The Department works to prevent their introduction into Canadian habitats, respond to new species detected, and manage the spread of established AIS.

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 15: “Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations”
• Global Indicator Framework target 15.8: “By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species”

In 2022-23, key activities included work on the development of guidelines and policies for the continued implementation of the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations (2015) and advanced training for intra- and inter-departmental partners in the Incident Command System (ICS) to be better prepared to respond to AIS incursions and enforce the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations.

In response to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development’s spring 2019 report on AIS, a national process for identifying and nominating species for addition to the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations (2015) was developed and tested, and the first nomination process was completed, including screening 45 species in 2022–23. This work was done in collaboration with provinces and territories through the National Aquatic Invasive Species Committee (NAISC). These species will be considered for addition to the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations (2015) in future general amendments.