Book 2, Tab B1 - Key Domestic Partners and Stakeholders

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• Regional snapshot
• Provinces & Territories
• Indigenous groups and communities
• Fishing & Aquaculture Industries
• ENGOs
• Resource industries
• Marine stakeholders

Regional snapshot

Regional stakeholders

Pacific

• Significant economic value from the recreational and commercial fisheries, including aquaculture
• Strong cultural ties to fisheries amongst First Nations – key element of treaty negotiations
• Very active marine/fish ENGO community
• High interest in protection of the Pacific salmon and habitat / Whales
• Strong FNs interest in Marine Response Regime (SAR and ER)

Central

• Primarily recreational fisheries with small commercial fishery (FFMC)
• Growing interest in prevention of aquatic invasive species
• Fisheries Act implementation (given prominent energy/mining sectors)

Arctic

• Implementation of new DFO Arctic Regional Office
• Co-development of Nunavut Fisheries Regulations
• Marine Conservation (marine protected areas)
• Comprehensive land claim and self-government agreements in place
• Expectation of increased Coast Guard presence in the Arctic 

Atlantic

• Communities highly dependent on fisheries and aquaculture for employment
• Strong Indigenous presence in the commercial fishery
• Active fisheries and offshore energy development industry
• Strong interest in remediation of Vessels of Concerns (regional cross cutting issue)

Provinces & Territories

• Jurisdiction over fisheries, habitat, and ocean space is complex and sometimes shared
• Bilateral relationships linked to geography and jurisdiction (e.g., inland vs coastal)
• Collaborative mechanisms in place to deliver on shared priorities (i.e., fish funds)

Key stakeholders

• Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) – represents all jurisdictions
• Eastern Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (EFAM) – represents NB, NS, NL, PEI, QC

Organizational context

• Federal jurisdiction(marine waters and habitat)
• P/T jurisdiction (inland fisheries)
• Established bilateral mechanisms, MOUs, etc.

Priorities

• Fisheries Act implementation
• Marine conservation agenda
• Trade and market access
• Inland and recreational fishing
• Aquatic invasive species
• Federal aquaculture legislation

Emerging priorities: labour, climate change, sector growth and innovation, seafood labelling

Indigenous groups and communities

First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups and communities across Canada

• Active and comprehensive relationship with Indigenous groups across the country
• Relationship is evolving through our approach to reconciliation
• Fisheries and marine issues central to many treaty and negotiating tables

Key stakeholders

• National Indigenous Organizations (NIOs)
  • AFN (First Nation), MNC (Metis) , ITK (Inuit)
• Regional and Community Organizations
• Issue-specific Indigenous organizations (e.g., National Aboriginal Council on Species at Risk)

Organizational context

• Permanent Bilateral Mechanisms with NIOs
• Multilateral (NIOs part of FPT ministerial table)
• Over 60 negotiating tables across Canada
• Indigenous entities (over 200) funded through programming

Priorities

• Implementation of 25 modern treaties
• Expanded access to fisheries resources
• Greater role in decision-making related to fisheries, oceans, marine issues
• Co-management, co-design, and co-delivery of Indigenous programs
• Implementation of United Nations Declaration for on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

Fishing & Aquaculture Industries

• Fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders vary widely in size and degree of organization
• Organized through national, regional, and community-level associations
• Local fishing associations highly integrated in our fisheries management processes

Key stakeholders

• Canadian Independent Fishers Federation
• Fisheries Council of Canada
• Maritime Fishermen’s Union, B.C Seafood Alliance
• Community associations (e.g., Grand Manan, NB)
• Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA)

Organizational context

• East-coast fishery: defined by smaller independent operators, many associations
• West-coast fishery: typically, highly concentrated,
  vertically integrated (fewer players) 
• Aquaculture: one national industry association; provincial role

Priorities

• Fisheries – access and allocation decisions…fully subscribed fishery with competing users
• Oceans – marine conservation…balancing environmental and economic interests
• Aquaculture – enabling sector growth and social licence with legislative/regulatory certainty

ENGOs

• Advocate for fisheries sustainability, conservation and environmental protection
• Emphasis on addressing regulatory gaps, science, restoration, and public outreach
• Can also be partners in delivery (e.g. Pacific Salmon Foundation, Atlantic Salmon Federation)

Key stakeholders

• Oceana Canada and Oceans North
• World Wildlife Fund Canada
• Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

Organizational context

• Largely organized at the national-level in environmental and science portfolios
• Several active regional organizations on both coasts (i.e., fisheries, habitat, restoration)

Priorities

• [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act.]
• Marine conservation targets (oceans agenda)
• Clean oceans, freshwater ecosystems
• Protection for aquatic species at risk
• Fisheries habitat restoration
• Robust science and research programs

Resource industries

• Advocates for responsible growth of resource-based industries
• Balancing economic competitiveness with environmental protection
• Highly engaged in our legislative and regulatory agenda (i.e., Fisheries Act)

Key stakeholders

• Canadian Electricity Association
• Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Mining Association of Canada
• Canadian Hydropower Association

Organizational context

• Largely organized at the national-level
• Represent industry-wide interests in environmental, natural resource portfolios
• Bilateral mechanisms (MOUs) in place

Priorities

• Regulatory certainty for major projects
• New Fisheries Act implementation
• New Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
• Impact Assessment Act
• Offshore oil and gas development
• Marine conservation regime
• Mutually beneficial Indigenous partnerships

Marine stakeholders

• Transport Canada and Fisheries & Oceans Canada have distinct but interrelated responsibilities for the management of marine transportation safety
• Stakeholders can be shipping companies, vessel users, communities (marine search and rescue, aids to navigation, oil spill clean-up)
• Several shipyards currently engaged in coast guard fleet expansion

Key stakeholders

• Shipping Federation of Canada
• Canadian Shipowners Association
• Shipyards and Port Authorities

Organizational context

• Several key associations at national-level
• Canadian Marine Advisory Councils – established TC/DFO bodies for marine transportation safety, environmental protection

Priorities

• Safe and accessible marine shipping and transportation routes
• Enhanced icebreaking capacity and services
• Oceans Protection Plan (implementing world-leading marine safety system, oil spill response, local emergency response capacity)
• Fleet expansion, including efficient and transparent vessel procurement processes