Book 2, Tab A1 - Regional profiles

Key Priorities:

• Rebuilding plans to support sustainable and commercially viable fisheries (all 3 cod stocks) and Implementing the Sustainable Fisheries Framework (capelin)
• Advancing Marine Conservation Targets and Marine Spatial Planning
• Reconciliation and Rights Implementation
• Minimizing impacts of science data collection challenges on decision making

The region has 702 employees and an operating budget of $189.6 million (2022-23 all votes). Responsibilities include part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and three international boundaries: Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area; Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (France); and, Greenland.

• Province of NL has 29,000 km of coastline and ~18% of Canada’s total ocean area
• Three Marine Protected Areas and 11 Marine Refuges towards Marine Conservation Targets
• 317 small craft harbours and approximately 4,000 active fishing vessels
• Approximately 17,500 individuals employed by the fishery and aquaculture sectors
• Total landed value of the commercial fishery was $1.3 billion in 2022; expected to be lower in 2023
• Top commercial species include Snow crab, shrimp, and lobster
• Total value of aquaculture in 2022 was $127 million

Key Priorities:

• Reconciliation and Rights Implementation
• Species Conservation, Protection, and Recovery (e.g. Elver, Herring, Mackerel, Atlantic salmon, North Atlantic right whales (NARW))
• Healthy Freshwater and Oceans (e.g. MCT, Habitat Protection, Ghost Gear)
• Ocean Economy (e.g. AFF, SCH, MSP)

The region has approximately 1,048 employees and an operating budget of $97.58 million. It accounts for 37% of the total landed value of Canada’s commercial fisheries: 70+ species harvested (2021)

• 8,600 kilometres of coastline from the tip of Cape Breton to the Can (NB)-US border
• Three MPAs: The Gully; Musquash Estuary; and, St. Anns Bank + Two Areas of Interest (AOI) and an advanced bioregional conservation network planning process
• 172 small craft harbours and ~3,000 active commercial vessels (2022)
• Approximately 12,500 fish harvesters and a total landed value of ~$1.6 billion (2022, preliminary)
• Top three species (2022, preliminary):
  • lobster ($860M);
  • scallop ($228 million);
  • snow crab ($145 million)
• Total value of finfish aquaculture production (2021): $310 million*

*Total value for NS and NB combined

Key Priorities:

• Protection of endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW) while ensuring sustainable fisheries
• Advancing negotiations / dialogue with Indigenous communities to improve fisheries access
• Conservation and recovery of the wild Atlantic Salmon and leading science through the Atlantic Salmon Research Joint Venture
• Rebuild small craft harbours and recover lost fishing gear post-hurricane Fiona

The region has 555 employees and an operating budget of $74 million. It has one of the country’s most productive marine areas with 25 commercially fished species.

• 7,000 km of coastline, and includes waters adjacent to New Brunswick’s eastern coast, the Northumberland Strait coast of Nova Scotia, western Cape Breton Island, and Prince Edward Island
• 114 SCHs and approximately 3,877 registered fishing vessels
• One MPA: Basin Head
• Approximately 11,959 fish harvesters and a total landed value of $1.1 billion (2021 p)
• Top species: lobster ($724 million); snow crab ($315 million)
• Total value of shellfish aquaculture production in PEI (2021p): $54.7 million. The Gulf Region is the predominant region for shellfish aquaculture production in the Maritime provinces. PEI shellfish aquaculture represents 57% by volume of the national production in 2021p

Key Priorities:

• Advancing Indigenous Reconciliation through consultations, rights-based reconciliation agreements negotiation/implementation, and collaborative development
• Review the precautionary approach to shrimp in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, analyze its impact on the industry, and work with other government departments to identify solutions to help the sector weather the crisis
• Implementing marine protected areas (MPAs) in partnership with the QC government
• Mitigating potential impacts on marine mammals and market access through the ghost gear initiative and implementation of protection measures for endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW)

The region has 690 employees and an operating budget of $105 M. It manages the Quebec Fisheries Fund.

• Province of Quebec and a large part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
• 91 small craft harbours, 30 of which account for 90% of region’s total landed value
• One MPA: Banc-des-Américains
• Approximately 1,000 active fish harvesters and a total landed value of $463 million (2022)
• Top three species: lobster ($211 million); snow crab ($196 million); shrimp ($26 million)
• Total value of aquaculture production (2019): $12.3 million

Key Priorities:

• Protecting freshwater biodiversity and fish and fish habitat
• Supporting Canada's Critical Mineral Strategy
• Strengthening federal, provincial, Indigenous collaboration to protect ecosystem health
• Increasing role in freshwater and transboundary water science within the Canada-Ontario and Great Lakes Water Quality Agreements 
• Providing services to the Arctic Region

The region has 679 employees located in four provinces and in the north, with an operating budget of $131.5M. It has a focus on freshwater and protecting aquatic biodiversity.

• 20% of world’s freshwater supply is in the Great Lakes
• 63% of Canada’s GDP
• 57% of pop’n
• 63% of First Nations and 65% of Metis populations in Canada
• 155 small craft harbours, supporting commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishing
• 46% of DFO’s total* Fish and Fish Habitat Protection files; numerous major projects (e.g., new nuclear projects, Ring of Fire, oil sands, Alberta forestry); 55 SARA-listed species; AIS prevention/control
• Total value of aquaculture production (current estimate): $58 million 
• Direct expenditures attributable to recreational fishing (2015): over $1.4 billion
• Total landed value of commercial fishing (2021): $69 million (Great Lakes - $40M; FFMC - $29M)

* FY2020/21 FFHPP referrals: 2,379 of 5,125 nationally

Key Priorities:

• Establishing governance frameworks with northern partners
• Support for Inuit Nunangat Policy
• Joint DFO-CCG Recruitment and Retention Strategy
• Transition of additional programs to Arctic Region
• Co-development of Nunavut Fishery Regulations
• Marine Conservation
• Land Use Planning, including GOC Approval of Nunavut Land Use Plan (plan released June 2023)

The region has 87 employees and an operating budget of $31.3 M - both expected to more than double in the coming years. Staff in the NWT, Nunavut, and the south. Strong push for additional offices in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut.

• ~175,000 km of coastline
• Creation of region advances reconciliation
• Co-management under land claims
• Three MPAs:
  • Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam
  • Tarium Niryutait
  • Tuvaijuittuq
• 4 small craft harbours
• Clyde River SCH under construction
• Arctic Bay SCH discussion ongoing
• Total landed value of commercial fishing (2022): ~$214 million
• Top species: Greenland Halibut and shrimp (2022): combined value of $214 million
• Subsistence fishing is culturally and economically important
• Species: Arctic char; seal; walrus; beluga; narwhal; bowhead

Key Priorities:

• Stemming Pacific Salmon decline through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative
• Advancing Indigenous Reconciliation through engagement, treaty negotiations, and collaborative development
• Developing a Finfish Aquaculture Transition Plan
• Working with BC and First Nations on implementing the Marine Protected Area Network for the Northern Shelf Bioregion

The region has 2,300 employees, an operating budget of $290 million, a capital budget of $65 million and a grants and contributions budget of $180 million. It manages the BC Salmon Restoration & Innovation Fund and oversees the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative.

• 27,000 km of coastline + 105 river systems (Old Crow flats in Yukon to southern tip of Vancouver Island)
• 101 SCHs
• 3 Oceans Act MPAs: Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents, SG̲áan K̲ínghlas-Bowie Seamount, and Hectate Strait
• Approximately 4,975 commercial harvesters and a total landed value of $334 million (2020)
• Top wild species (2022): Halibut ($62 million); Crab ($55 million); Prawn ($47 million); Geoduck ($33 million)
• Farmgate value of aquaculture (2022): $912* million (96 per cent from Atlantic salmon)
• The recreational fishing sector (including tidal and freshwater) generated over $1 billion in total revenues in 2015. Recent information indicates that the tidal and recreational fishery alone generated roughly $658 million in total revenues in 2022

Key Priorities:

• Continue to support the development & implementation of key government initiatives such as Blue Economy Strategy and the Oceans Protection Plan
• Continue to build and strengthen relationships and partnerships with Indigenous governments, communities and organizations
• Continue to create and maintain a qualified, diverse and inclusive workforce while striving to maintain a healthy work environment

The region has 2,207 employees and an operating budget of $275 million.

Key Priorities:

• Advance reconciliation and implement DFO national strategy
• Recruitment, retention and training
• Enhance role of the Regional Operation Center
• Implement the Concept of operations of Coast Guard
• Create an environment that promotes bilingualism

The region has approximately 1,626 employees and an operating budget of $217 million.

Key Priorities:

• Building Indigenous partnerships with 60+ coastal First Nations
• Advancing Marine Domain Awareness

The region has 1,370 employees and an operating budget of $152 million. It sees 53 per cent of all marine communications and traffic services (MCTS) in Canada and an annual average of 3500 SAR cases, 1200 pollution cases, with the reviewing of 350 VOC cases last year.

Key Priorities:

• Improve operational readiness & marine safety in the Arctic in collaboration with Inuit, First Nations & Metis governments & organizations
• Implement joint activities with DFO Arctic:
• Increase representative workforce through development of Northern Recruitment and Retention Strategy
• Advance reconciliation through the establishment of regional governance frameworks
• Implement Phase 2 Community Engagement Coordinators
• Implement Oceans Protection Plan 2
• Publish Arctic Strategy

The geographical boundaries for the Arctic Region were announced on March 5, 2021, making it the first GoC region to encompass all of Inuit Nunangat. The Region has 138 employees and an operating budget of $24.6 million. Increasing capacity and employment opportunities in the region continues to be a key priority.