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
• fishing licence that contains conditions for the protection of aquatic species at risk

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.

• Apply for an authorization (normal) (PDF, 558 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.

Apply for a Species at Risk (SARA) permit 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