Book 2, Tab A3 - Current Issues

On this page

• Purpose
• Fiona Response
• Aquaculture Management
• Moderate Livelihood
• Blue Economy Strategy
• Marine Conservation
• Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress
• Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative
• Comparative Fishing
• Shipbuilding
• Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation

Purpose

To provide an overview of current issues that will require early consideration, including:

• Fiona Response
• Aquaculture Management
• Moderate Livelihood
• Blue Economy Strategy
• Marine Conservation
• Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress
• Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative
• Comparative Fishing
• Shipbuilding 
• Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation

Fiona response

Hurricane Fiona had major impacts on Canadians, the infrastructure they use, and the oceans they depend on.

Context

• Hurricane Fiona impacted infrastructure across Atlantic Canada and Quebec, including DFO-owned fishing harbours, managed by the Small Craft Harbours Program (SCH) as well as fishing and aquaculture operations.
• In October 2022, it was announced that $100 million of the $300 million Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund (HFRF) (led by ACOA) would be dedicated to support the immediate and urgent work currently being carried out on the recovery of lost fishing gear and repairs of small craft harbours.

Considerations

• Work is ongoing to assess the full extent of damage and losses to marine infrastructure.
  • There are approximately 1,100 fishing harbours in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec, including both DFO-owned Small Craft Harbours (SCH) and other harbours.
• This fall, $1.5 million of the HFRF will be used to support efforts to clean up gear and, when possible, to return them to their rightful owners. A fall call for proposals seeking partners is also planned and will support third party efforts to complete additional gear clean up efforts in 2023.

Aquaculture management

Enabling an environmentally sustainable and economically successful aquaculture sector.

Key issues

• On June 22, 2022, the Minister announced next steps towards development of a plan for transitioning from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in coastal British Columbia, as well as two-year renewal of licences for marine finfish aquaculture facilities outside of the Discovery Islands.
• On July 29, 2022, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) released a discussion framework which outlines a proposed vision for transitioning from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in British Columbia. The proposed framework will help guide engagement with the Government of British Columbia, First Nations, industry, local governments, stakeholders, and British Columbians.

Considerations

• Engagement on the discussion framework will run until early 2023. The feedback and input received during this engagement will be instrumental in the development of the final transition plan, expected to be completed in the spring of 2023.
• The Department is also working toward advancing federal aquaculture legislation, respecting existing jurisdiction without encroaching on the ability to regulate aquaculture in their jurisdictions.

Moderate Livelihood

Implementation of the right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood.

Context

• The Supreme Court of Canada formally recognized a Right of Indigenous people in Atlantic Canada to hunt and fish for a moderate livelihood in 1999.
• Over the past 21 years, the Government has invested $630 million in fishing license, vessels, gear, and training to help increase and diversify participation in commercial fisheries, and to advance the implementation of the right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood.
• In 2021, DFO introduced a new, optional path for First Nations in the Maritimes and the Gaspé region of Québec to aid members fishing in pursuit of a moderate livelihood and continues to assess longer-term measures with Indigenous partners and stakeholders.

Considerations

• There currently are three litigations that have been launched (one by industry and two by Treaty communities) challenging the Ministers authority when it comes to entering into an agreement and regulating the moderate livelihood fishery.
• The Department is continuing work toward implementing the right through and range of mechanisms and continues to work closely with Indigenous communities and the fishing industry to promotes conservation, transparency, and stability in the fishery.

Blue Economy

Canada is well-positioned to be a major player in the global blue economy with significant potential to grow our ocean sectors responsibly and sustainably.

Context

• Global ocean economic activity is rapidly expanding and is expected to reach over CAD 4 trillion by 2030 - Canada must act to capture its share.
• Peer countries are moving forward with coordinated strategies in order to seize opportunities (i.e., Norway; the United Kingdom; Portugal; Australia; and India).
• The blue economy can unlock enormous economic benefits for Canadians, and for coastal communities, in particular. 

Considerations

• DFO is currently developing a Blue Economy Strategy (BES) that would ensure Canada and its industry, communities and people are positioned to succeed in the fast-growing global ocean sectors of the blue economy while advancing reconciliation, conservation and climate objectives.
• The BES will help Canada achieve the Prime Minister’s commitment as a member of the Ocean Panel to develop a Sustainable Oceans Plan.
• Extensive public engagement took place between February 8 – June 15, 2021, with a What We Heard report released on March 11, 2022.

Marine conservation

Advancing towards the target of conserving 25 per cent of marine areas by 2025, and working towards 30 per cent by 2030.

Context

• On July 22, 2021, the Government of Canada announced a historic investment in marine conservation, providing $976.8 million in funding over five years to protect 25 per cent of Canada’s ocean by 2025.
• Canada currently conserves 14.66 per cent of marine and coastal areas, including 14 MPAs established by DFO under the Oceans Act and 59 marine refuges.
• To reach the 2025 target, work is advancing on new marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, pursuing marine spatial processes with partners and stakeholders, ensuring effective site management, and to undertake international advocacy with like-minded countries.

Considerations

• There are divergent views on marine conservation approaches given the potential loss of economic opportunity versus conservation benefits.
• Balancing of interests remains challenging given the range of stakeholders and partners interests. Indigenous partners are also looking to play a greater role in the management of ocean spaces and resources (e.g., co-governance arrangements, Indigenous Conservation Protected Areas).

Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5)

IMPAC5 event providing an opportunity to connect with experts on marine protected areas from around the world.

Context

• The International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC) is hosted every four years in partnership between the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and chosen host country.
• In February 2023, the Government of Canada is co-hosting IMPAC5 in partnership with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), the Government of British Columbia (B.C.), and the and the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
• The event provides a forum to gather marine protected area practitioners, Indigenous communities, governments, civil society, and academia to come together to develop a roadmap to 2030 for ocean conservation.

Considerations

• The IMPAC5 Leadership Forum will be a key venue for announcements on progress by various international and domestic attendees.
• Provides an opportunity to demonstrate Canadian global leadership in conservation, advocate internationally to set a goal of 30 per cent conservation by 2030, explore climate change adaption strategies, and how to grow ocean economy while advancing conservation.

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative

The Sustainability of Pacific Wild Salmon Stocks.

Context

• The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) was launched by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in June 2021, with the goal of stemming the severe and ongoing decline of key Pacific salmon populations on Canada’s West Coast and restoring them to a sustainable level for future generations of Canadians.
• The $647-million long-term initiative is unprecedented in both value and scope, and the work will require the efforts of not only the Department, but of those whose lives and interests are affected by the state of Pacific salmon.

Considerations

• Pacific salmon populations are being negatively affected at every stage of their lifecycle, by a combination of factors: climate change and warming waters, acute one-time events (e.g., Big Bar Landslide), habitat degradation, land and water use pressures, pollution, and Illegal and unregulated fishing.
• Significant Indigenous, environmental and public expectations for PSSI, including partnership opportunities and commitment to a collaborative Canada-BC--Indigenous approach protect and conserve Pacific salmon.

Comparative fishing

Comparative Fishing in Atlantic Canada.

Context

• Multi-species surveys provide the data that underpins the Department’s scientific advice on most fisheries in Atlantic Canada. DFO Science and the Canadian Coast Guard work together on the science-at-sea program, including fisheries surveys, to inform decision on fisheries management.
• While the arrival of new Fisheries Science vessels will support fisheries surveys in Canada for decades to come, the department has encountered some short-term challenges that have impacts on multi-species fisheries surveys and will impact these assessments in the near-term. 
• DFO Science continues to work to collect information that will enable the continuity of vital data sets used for science assessments – this requires calibrating the old vessels against the new. This comparative trawling means that the old vessels and new vessels work side by side. 

Considerations

• Updates will be provided over the course of the fall on what sampling has been possible.
• Stakeholder interest is expected. Going forward, the 2023 fisheries management decisions will continue to be based on the best available science information, stakeholder input, and socio-economic considerations

Shipbuilding

Fleet renewal and the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).

Context

• Fleet Renewal efforts under the National Shipbuilding Strategy remain a key priority to ensure Coast Guard can continue supporting the safety, accessibility, and security of Canadian waters. 
• Significant progress has been made, with $17.5 billion in shipbuilding contracts awarded to date, and three CCG large vessels delivered. However, Coast Guard’s large vessel projects have suffered from delays and increased costs. 
• Work on new icebreakers is expected to begin following the addition of Chantier Davie Shipyard to the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), which is expected by the end of 2022. 

Considerations

• Media attention has occurred over the last several years detailing the increasing costs and ongoing delays with the procurement of Coast Guard’s large vessel fleet. 
• Coast Guard has been working closely with shipyards and internal stakeholders to manage and address ongoing issues. 
• Interim measures, such as the acquisition of four commercial icebreakers and the ongoing implementation of $2 billion in vessel life extensions, will ensure essential Coast Guard services.

Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation

Moving forward the transformation of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

Context

• Enabled under the Freshwater Fish Marketing Act (Act, FFMA), the FFMC has the exclusive right to market and trade freshwater fish in interprovincial and export markets in designated products supplied by commercial fishers in participating jurisdictions
• Over the past 11 years, the FFMC operating environment has experienced significant change. Since 2011, several participating provinces (Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) have withdrawn from the Act, and now the Northwest Territories is the only participating jurisdiction. 
• Recognizing the need to adapt to the new operating environment, in 2018, a ministerial advisory panel was established to explore ways to transform FFMC to remain modern and competitive in the open market; in 2020, an interlocutor was appointed to help further advance transformation efforts.  

Considerations

• The FFMC has helped to support freshwater fish harvesters, including those in remote and northern Indigenous communities, for more than 50 years.
• Until transformation is complete, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation will operate under its current mandate.