Request a review of your project near water: Step 5. Apply for project authorization

You'll need to apply for authorization if we determine that your project will cause the death of fish and/or harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada can grant project authorization in the form of a:

• Fisheries Act Authorization
• Fisheries Act Authorization that also acts as a Species At Risk Act permit
• Stand-alone permit under the Species at Risk Act

When the work, undertaking or activity requires an authorization, the latter is requested according to the requirements of the Authorizations Concerning Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Regulations.

Please note that the decision whether to issue or not an authorization under paragraphs 34.4(2)(b) and 35(2)(b) of the Fisheries Act is “Crown conduct” to which the duty to consult will apply and, when appropriate to accommodate, when Aboriginal or treaty rights may potentially be adversely affected. For more information on Indigenous consultation, please consult the Crown duty to consult and, when appropriate, accommodate.

Your authorization will include terms and conditions you must follow to avoid, mitigate, offset (counterbalance impacts) and monitor the impacts to fish and fish habitat resulting from the project. Failure to abide by these terms and conditions is a contravention of the Act and may result in fines.

You can check for aquatic species at risk in the vicinity of your project with the Aquatic species at risk map. If your project could have impacts on an aquatic species at risk you must include the information required for the consideration of the approval of activities otherwise prohibited under the Species At Risk Act with your application for authorization. Please consult Applying for a Fisheries Act authorization acting as a Species at Risk Act (SARA) permit or a stand-alone SARA permit for tips to avoid delays. Your Fisheries Act authorization may act as a Species at Risk Act permit if needed.

• Apply for an authorization (normal) (PDF, 395 KB)
• Apply for authorization (emergency) (PDF, 492 KB)
• Apply for reinstatement of authorization (PDF, 490 KB)
• Apply for amending authorization (PDF, 491 KB)
• Apply for suspension or cancellation of authorization (PDF, 592 KB)
• Applicant's guide to submitting an application for authorization

Policy for Applying Measures to Offset Impacts to Fish and Fish Habitat Under the Fisheries Act.

Interim Policy for Establishing Fish Habitat Banks to Support the Administration of the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act - February 2021

Send completed forms to your regional office.

Submit a Species at Risk Act (SARA) permit application to your regional office if your project:

• will not result in the:
• death of fish
• harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat
• will likely result in harm, harassment, or capture of an aquatic species at risk