Book 1, Tab B1 - Mandate Priorities – State of play

On this page

• Mandate letter commitments
• Greater access to fisheries for Indigenous communities
• Aquaculture and BC Net-Pen transition
• Pacific Salmon Strategy
• Marine conservation targets
• Blue Economy Strategy
• Fleet Renewal
• Small Craft Harbours
• Fisheries Act implementation
• Atlantic salmon conservation
• Ghost Gear Program
• Better incorporate traditional knowledge
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Oceans Act modernization

Mandate letter commitments

The current list of commitments reflect the 2021 ministerial mandate letter.

The 17 DFO-led mandate letter commitments have been grouped into five themes.

Advancing Reconciliation

• Greater access to fisheries for Indigenous communities (Underway – On Track)
• Better incorporate Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (Underway – On Track)

Species Protection

• Atlantic Salmon Conservation (Underway – On Track)
• Fisheries Act Implementation (Underway – On Track)
• Pacific Salmon Strategy (Underway – On Track)

Habitat Restoration & Marine Protection

• Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (Underway – On Track)
• Ghost Gear Program (Underway – On Track)
• Oceans Act Modernization (Underway – In progress with challenges or delays)
• Marine Conservation Targets (30% by 2030) (Underway – In progress with challenges or delays)

Climate Change

• Climate-Resilient Ocean Conservation Working Group (Underway – On Track)
• Carbon Storage and Absorption (Underway – In progress with challenges or delays)
• Climate Vulnerability (Underway – In progress with challenges or delays)

Economic Transition

• Fleet Renewal (Underway – On Track)
• Small Craft Harbours (Underway – On Track)
• BC Net-Pen Transition (Underway – In progress with challenges or delays)
• Blue Economy Strategy (Underway – In progress with challenges or delays)
• Aquaculture Act (Underway – In progress with challenges or delays)

Greater access to fisheries for Indigenous communities

Advance consistent, sustainable and collaborative fisheries arrangements with Indigenous and non-Indigenous fish harvesters

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to advance consistent, sustainable and collaborative fisheries arrangements with Indigenous and non-Indigenous fish harvesters
• To implement that mandate commitment, the Department employs programs and policies to increase Indigenous community access to fisheries, and to foster engagement and consultation to support fisheries decision making and pursues collaborative governance and decision-making arrangements
• Tools such as programs to acquire access under a willing buyer seller model, collaborative reconciliation agreements, Moderate Livelihood Fishing Plans, and treaties enable collaboration in the exercise of Aboriginal and treaty fisheries rights

Recent accomplishments

• Extended 2017 mandate to negotiate long-term Rights Reconciliation Agreements (RRAs) with 35 Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkati communities (Treaty Nations)
• Reached 10 short-term understandings based on Moderate Livelihood Fishing Plans (MLFPs) with 15 Treaty Nations for the 2022-23 fishing season
• In other areas, and particularly the Pacific, the Department employs a variety of tools to provide access to fisheries and enable collaborative decision-making

Aquaculture and BC Net-Pen transition

Work with British Columbia and Indigenous communities on a plan to transition from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to continue to work with the province of British Columbia and Indigenous communities on a responsible plan to transition from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025 as well as to work to introduce Canada’s first-ever Aquaculture Act
• On July 29, 2022, DFO released a discussion framework which outlines a proposed vision for the transition. The proposed framework will help guide engagement with the Government of British Columbia, First Nations, industry, local governments, stakeholders, and British Columbians
• Engagement on the discussion framework is ongoing. The feedback and input received will be instrumental in the development of the final transition plan

Recent accomplishments

• Over the past year, the Department has been consulting on an approach for a transition to minimize impacts on wild salmon and is currently engaging on input received
• Completed the first phase of engagement to help to establish aquaculture-specific legislation and published a "What We Heard" report summarizing engagement to date as discussions with provinces and territories continue through intergovernmental fora

Pacific Salmon Strategy

Work with partners and implicated communities to implement the Pacific Salmon Strategy

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to work in close collaboration with provincial and territorial authorities, Indigenous partners, fishing and stewardship organizations and implicated communities to implement the Pacific Salmon Strategy and to make new investments and develop a conservation strategy to restore and rebuild wild Atlantic salmon populations and their habitats
• The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) was launched in June 2021, with the goal of stemming the ongoing decline of key Pacific salmon populations on Canada’s West Coast and restoring them to a sustainable level for future generations of Canadians
• While the $647 million long-term investment to the PSSI is significant, Budget 2023 reduced $55 million from the PSSI  budget allocation as part of government spending reductions

Recent accomplishments

• Completed engagement with First Nations, BC Government representatives and commercial harvesters on long-term commercial salmon fisheries closures
• Advanced work in response to impacts of 2021 flood on Pacific salmon habitats
• Launched the Pacific Salmon Commercial Licence Retirement Program
• Funded Canada's lead role in Operation North Pacific Guard, to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the North Pacific Ocean, to enhance conservation, protection and enforcement efforts in high-risk areas for Canada's Pacific salmon stocks
• Currently implementing an innovative governance and advisory model, including BC Indigenous communities

Marine conservation targets

Ensure Canada meets its goals to conserve 25 per cent of its oceans by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030, and champion this goal internationally

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to ensure Canada meets its goals to conserve 25 per cent of Canada’s ocean by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030
• 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 marine protected areas (MPAs) established by DFO under the Oceans Act and 60 marine refuges

Recent accomplishments

• Announced Government’s Guidance for Recognizing Marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Announced further details on the scope of activities subject to the Government’s 2019 MPA Protection Standard at the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress, hosted in Vancouver in February 2023
• To reach the 2025 and 2030 targets, the Department is advancing a range of activities to support the establishment of new MPAs, including the recently introduced Project Finance for Permanence model

Blue Economy Strategy

Work with partners to grow Canada's ocean and freshwater economy and support the long-term sustainable growth of Canada's fish and seafood sector

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to continue working with business, academic institutions, non-profits, provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous partners to grow Canada’s ocean and freshwater economy and support the long-term sustainable growth of Canada’s fish and seafood sector, ensuring Canada is positioned to succeed in the fast-growing global ocean sectors of the blue economy and advancing reconciliation, conservation and climate objectives
• The Blue Economy Strategy public engagement process was officially launched on February 8, 2021, and ended on June 15, 2021
• A ‘What We Heard’ report summarizing the input received was released on March 11, 2022

Recent accomplishments

• Launched the Blue Economy Regulatory Review and completed the public comment period

Fleet Renewal

Renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to continue working with the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, with the support of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, advance the shipbuilding industry, including the process to add a third Canadian shipyard as a strategic partner to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, create middle class jobs and ensure Canada has the modern ships needed

Recent accomplishments

• Renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet is underway
• To date, the Canadian Coast Guard has taken delivery of three large vessels, 28 small vessels, 23 helicopters and four interim icebreakers
• As part of the Strategy, $2.5 billion is being provided to complete the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet which means the Coast Guard will be able to buy up to 61 additional small vessels to replace aging vessels across the country
• Recent announcement of Chantier Davie joining Irving Shipbuilding of Halifax and Seaspan Shipyards of Vancouver as a strategic partner in the National Shipbuilding Strategy

Small Craft Harbours

Support improvement in Small Craft Harbours and ensure investments are resulting in climate-resilient infrastructure that serves the needs of the fishing industry and local residents

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to continue to support improvement in Small Craft Harbours and work to ensure our investments in harbours are resulting in climate-resilient infrastructure that serves the needs of the fishing industry and local residents
• Small Craft Harbours provide key support to the commercial fishing industry. The Small Craft Harbours program keeps the harbours that are critical to the fishing industry open and in good repair
• As of August 2022, the Small Craft Harbours program was responsible for 973 harbours:
  • 675 core fishing harbours and 298 non-core fishing harbours
• In Budget 2021, the program received an infusion of $300 million over two years to repair, renew, and replace small craft harbours and in October 22, $100 million in funding was provided for damages caused by Hurricane Fiona
• The program has a relatively small core budget and has relied on regular B-base top-ups to meet investment needs. Inflationary pressures across the construction sector are straining existing resources

Recent accomplishments

• 137 of 228 SCH projects across Canada planned under Budget 2021 funding completed to date

Fisheries Act implementation

Continue to implement the modernized Fisheries Act

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to work to support sustainable, stable, prosperous fisheries through the continued implementation of the modernized Fisheries Act, which restores lost protections, rebuilds fish populations, and incorporates modern safeguards so that fish and fish habitats are protected for future generations and Canada’s fisheries can continue to grow the economy and sustain coastal communities
• To support ongoing implementation of the modernized Fisheries Act, engagement activities continue with Indigenous peoples, partners, stakeholders, and the public on development of policies, frameworks, instruments, and guidance to support more streamlined project reviews, while ensuring clean growth activities and development can occur in and around waterways
• Additional engagement will be undertaken on implementation of the fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act, including: consideration of cumulative effects in decision making, and additional codes of practice aimed at avoiding impacts to fish and fish habitat

Recent accomplishments

• Completed all engagement and consultations on proposed Prescribed Works and Waters Regulation (PWWR) and published the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) Framework to provide transparency on the conservation, protection, and restoration objectives to all stakeholders
• Launched engagement on a draft of the modernized offsetting policy and habitat banking guidelines
• Developed a strategy on how Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) will increase collaboration with Indigenous Peoples over the long-term
• Negotiating 36 contribution agreements totaling $53.3 million

Atlantic salmon conservation

Make new investments and develop a conservation strategy to restore and rebuild wild Atlantic salmon populations and their habitats

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to work in close collaboration with provincial and territorial authorities, Indigenous partners, fishing and stewardship organizations and implicated communities to make new investments and develop a conservation strategy to restore and rebuild wild Atlantic salmon populations and their habitats
• A Wild Atlantic Salmon Conservation Policy and Implementation Plan were announced in March of 2017 and May of 2019, respectively. The 2019-21 Implementation Plan outlined the actions Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and partners expected take to help restore and maintain healthy wild Atlantic salmon populations

Recent accomplishments

• Completed public online engagement on the draft elements of the Wild Atlantic Salmon Conservation Strategy (WASCS)
• A “What We Heard” report is being finalized and is ready to be released imminently

Ghost Gear Program

Expand the Ghost Gear Program to clean up lost and abandoned fishing gear and ocean plastics, and to help prevent entanglement of large marine mammals

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to continue to protect and restore our oceans and coasts via several avenues, including by expanding the Ghost Gear Program to continue efforts by fishers and others to clean up lost and abandoned fishing gear and ocean plastics
• The Department has committed to showing leadership in the management of ghost gear by implementing a national program that focuses efforts on prevention, mitigation, recovery and management, both domestically and abroad
• In 2022, DFO’s Ghost Gear Program was renewed for 5 years (fiscal years 2022-2023 through 2026-2027) with an overarching goal that marine pollution from ghost gear is prevented and reduced
• A key component of this program is the Ghost Gear Fund, which has dedicated over $58M towards projects addressing ghost gear and has been recognized internationally as the first dedicated fund to address this issue. Additionally, in 2022, Canada became the first country to share its lost gear reporting data publicly through the Global Ghost Gear Initiative’s global data portal

Recent accomplishments

• Between July 2020 and June 2023, in collaboration with stakeholders from across Canada, there were 1,808 at-sea, shoreline and aquaculture trips, with a total of 1,766 tonnes retrieved including gear, rope, and aquaculture debris. Of this, there was 485 km of rope retrieved.  Many indigenous groups participate in these retrieval activities
• Following Hurricane Fiona in September 2022, $30M in funding was allocated to the Ghost Gear Fund to support emergency response and retrieval efforts in Atlantic Canada/Eastern Quebec

Better incorporate traditional knowledge

Work with Indigenous partners to better integrate traditional knowledge into planning and policy decisions

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to work with Indigenous partners to better integrate traditional knowledge into planning and policy decisions
• Indigenous knowledge may be considered part of the work of the Department in a wide variety of fields and business lines. For example, Indigenous knowledge continues to be considered in ongoing program activities, including research and science, marine protected area management plans, and habitat and fisheries decisions

Recent accomplishments

• Supported capacity building for Indigenous Knowledge (IK) through initiatives such as the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management Innovation and Collaboration Fund, the Indigenous Habitat Participation program, and the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk
• Created an Indigenous Knowledge Working Group to advance policy and program development for IK
• Developed interim guidance providing nationally-consistent approach to practitioners on how to implement the IK provisions in the Fisheries Act, in relation to Fisheries Act authorization decisions

Climate change mitigation and adaptation

Taking action to mitigate and adapt to climate change  in coastal and ocean areas

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to create a national, interdisciplinary working group focused on climate-resilient ocean conservation planning; to expand climate vulnerability work to better inform marine conservation planning and management; and to make new investments in coastal and ocean areas that have a high potential to absorb and store carbon, like tidal wetlands, seagrass meadows and riparian habitats

Recent accomplishments

• Launched the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF) as part renewal of the national Oceans Protection Plan, launched July 19, 2022. The program will provide $75 million over the next 5 years to support aquatic restoration that will help to address the root causes of impacts to coastal and marine environments
• The Department continues to advance marine spatial processes that bring together relevant authorities to better coordinate how it uses and manages marine spaces to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives in a balanced way
• Began work to build a national monitoring framework that includes consideration of climate change in marine protected areas, while continuing to research the impacts of climate change including ocean acidification, low oxygen levels and changing sea ice, as well as impacts on our fisheries and aquatic ecosystems
• Work is ongoing to assess options to expand climate vulnerability work to better inform marine conservation planning and management through the implementation of activities toward reaching Canada’ marine conservation targets

Oceans Act modernization

Modernize the Oceans Act to explicitly consider climate change impacts on marine ecosystems and species in regional ocean and create a national, interdisciplinary working group focused on climate-resilient ocean conservation planning

Context

• The 2021 mandate letter calls for the Minister to explicitly consider impacts on marine ecosystems and species in regional ocean management, ensuring the Act provides for measurable progress indicators and objectives

Recent accomplishments

• Work is ongoing to assess options to modernize the act
• Work is advancing MSP in five bioregions (Pacific North Coast; Pacific South Coast; Bay of Fundy/Scotian Shelf; Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence; and Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves) that will be informed by science and knowledge through collaborative governance structures consisting of federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners and stakeholders