Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Key Media Lines
Scrum Issues – Media Lines

On this page

• Fiona Response (Small Craft Harbours)
• Aquaculture Management
• Moderate Livelihood
• Marine Conservation
• Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative
• Canadian Coast Guard Fleet Renewal
• Whales
• Sipekne'katik files Notice of Action against DFO in Nova Scotia Supreme Court
• Shrimp Fishery in Quebec

Fiona Response (Small Craft Harbours)

Issue:

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. $100 million from the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund (HFRF) (led by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) has been directed to the recovery of lost fishing gear and repairs of small craft harbours.

Media Lines:

• Hurricane Fiona produced substantial fishing gear-related debris and damage to small craft harbours. $100 million in support through the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund was directed to DFO for the recovery of lost fishing gear and repairs to small craft harbours damaged by Hurricane Fiona
• Clean up and short term repairs were carried out at DFO-owned small craft harbours impacted by the storm. As a result, harbours are available for use by fish harvesters during the 2023 fishing seasons
• Work is ongoing to assess, plan, and execute longer-term repairs to impacted marine infrastructure so that harbours are more resilient to future weather events

Aquaculture Management

Issue:

Aquaculture receives a high-level of public interest and views of Canadians on aquaculture can be varied and regionally-focused.

Media Lines:

• In Canada, the aquaculture sector includes farming of finfish, shellfish, and aquatic plants. Regulation of this industry has a mix of federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions. For example, in British Columbia aquaculture is managed at the federal level, whereas with the exception of PEI, in Atlantic Canada aquaculture operations fall under provincial jurisdiction
• Aquaculture takes place across Canada and provides direct and indirect economic benefits to many local and regional economies
• DFO follows a precautionary approach to managing aquaculture, to ensure the fish and seafood farming industry is operating responsibly but also supports the sustainable growth of the sector

Messages specific to B.C. transition:

• Given the threats that wild Pacific salmon are facing, the Government of Canada is taking action to conserve and protect them. This includes ensuring British Columbia's aquaculture industry is sustainable, innovative, and minimizes interactions between farmed and wild fish
• As set out by the previous mandate commitment, DFO is working collaboratively with Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders, industry and provincial partners in British Columbia on a responsible transition plan to remove open-net pen salmon farming from B.C. waters by 2025
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is leading extensive consultations with partners, Indigenous and coastal communities, and industry stakeholders to develop a responsible transition plan

Moderate Livelihood

Issue:

The Government of Canada recognizes the treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood, as affirmed in the 1999 Supreme Court of Canada's Marshall decision. The treaty right extends to 35 Nations in the Maritimes and Quebec.

In fall 2020, the Sipekne'katik First Nation launched what they referred to as a moderate livelihood fishery in St. Marys Bay, Nova Scotia. The move was met with strong public support, including from numerous other First Nations across the country, but also garnered heavy criticism from many Indigenous and non-Indigenous harvesters. Tensions were high and violence resulted.

While conflict has decreased since 2020, upholding the Marshall decision continues to be challenging and complex. Fisheries and Oceans Canada continues to negotiate with Treaty Nations to increase fishery access and implement the Indigenous right to fish.

Media Lines:

• The Government of Canada recognizes the treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood, as affirmed in the 1999 Supreme Court of Canada's Marshall decision
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada's priority continues to be the further implementation of the treaty right in a way that prioritizes reconciliation while ensuring conservation, with a preferred approach of using a Willing Buyer Willing Seller model
• Our goal is a fishery that is peaceful, productive, and prosperous, upholds the Marshall decisions, and ensures that Treaty Nations are able to exercise treaty rights in a way that is reflective of their vision and needs

Marine Conservation

Issue:

Under Budget 2021, the Government of Canada made a historic investment of $976.8 million in funding over five years to reach ambitious marine conservation targets through the establishment of marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, such as marine refuges.

Media Lines:

• The Government of Canada is committed to conserving 25 per cent of Canada's oceans by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada continues to work in close collaboration with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, in consultation with marine stakeholders and industry, to conserve and protect our oceans for the benefit of future generations
• To date, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has established 14 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under the Oceans Act and 60 marine refuges, or other effective area-based conservation measures
• In total, 842,821 square kilometres of Canada's marine and coastal areas have been conserved, amounting to 14.66 per cent of our oceans
• Our oceans have the potential to be part of the climate solution if we prioritize long-term success and recognize that environmental quality and economic growth are not competing values, but rather wholly dependent on one another

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative

Issue:

The Government of Canada launched the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) in June 2021 to stem steep declines and rebuild Pacific salmon stocks through a series of immediate and longer-term solutions, including targeted fishery closures, and a commercial licence buyback program.

Media Lines:

• The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) represents the largest-ever Government of Canada investment to save Pacific salmon. At some $740 million, this long-term investment aims to stop the ongoing decline in key stocks and rebuild their numbers, where possible, in collaboration with First Nations partners, key stakeholders, and community organizations
• Many key Pacific salmon stocks are declining to historic lows due to climate change, habitat degradation, land and water use, acute events like toxic spills and landslides, and harvest pressure, including illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing
• We need to take action toward stemming the declines now, while helping to rebuild adaptable populations over the longer term

Canadian Coast Guard Fleet Renewal

Issue:

The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is a long-term project to renew Canada's federal fleet of combat and non-combat vessels. Media coverage tends to be positive in tone when related to the completion of vessels under the NSS. However, the negative perception persists that the NSS is not living up to expectations, is failing to deliver fast enough to replace aging Coast Guard vessels, and that costs are increasing.

Media Lines:

• The Government of Canada is committed to the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and is making a significant investment in new vessels that will bring a modern, flexible approach to program delivery
• This includes the construction of two new Polar icebreakers designed to operate year round in Canada's North in support of Arctic sovereignty, high Arctic science, including climate change research, as well as capabilities to respond to maritime emergencies
• Investment in the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet is providing opportunities for Canadian shipyards across the country, helping to create skilled jobs, and reinvigorating domestic supply chains

Whales

Issue:

Canada's endangered whales—particularly the Southern Resident killer whale on the West Coast, and the North Atlantic right whale on the East Coast—generate a lot of media interest (local, national, and international). No matter the species (humpback, fin, blue whale, etc.) incidents such as mortalities, vessel collisions, and fishing entanglements can trigger media stories.

Media Lines:

North Atlantic right whale:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada is taking actions to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglements in fishing gear. We work closely with the fishing industry to minimize to the maximum extent possible the economic impacts of these measures on them, and are very grateful for their continued support in implementing closures when they occur
• Fishery management measures include changes to fishery open and close dates and the application of dynamic and season-long fishery closure protocols with support from our comprehensive visual and acoustic right whale surveillance program
• DFO will also continue to address lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear in right whale hot spots in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Southern Resident killer whale:

• The Southern Resident killer whale population is at risk. This endangered population is facing low quality and availability of food, increased noise and disturbance in their habitat, and contaminants in their environment
• To help Southern Resident killer whales recover, the Government of Canada has taken action to introduce comprehensive measures. These measures are aimed at improving our scientific understanding of the population, reducing the threats that Southern Resident Killer Whales face, and increasing public awareness about what we can all do to help
• The Government of Canada is increasing monitoring and research to improve our understanding of the sources and possible impacts of contaminants on whales and their prey

Sipekne'katik files Notice of Action against DFO in Nova Scotia Supreme Court

Issue:

Sipekne'katik has filed legal action against the Department alleging that DFO's licencing decisions and certain trap seizures by fishery officers on July 18 and 19, 2023 were unlawful, infringed aboriginal and treaty rights, and were discriminatory. The community was issued a licence by the Department to harvest lobster for food, social and ceremonial (FSC) purposes. As DFO has not currently issued a licence authorizing fishing lobster for sale, any commercial fishing undertaken outside the conditions of a communal commercial licence is unauthorized.

Media Lines:

• No specific comment about the case recently filed can be made as it is now before the courts
• The Department issued Sipekne'katik First Nation their food, social and ceremonial (FSC) lobster licence for the 2023-24 season on May 31, 2023
• DFO looks forward to consulting with Sipekne'katik on the implementation of a moderate livelihood fishery that is authorized by the Department

Shrimp Fishery in Quebec

Issue:

The shrimp fishery is an industry of great importance for the economy in Quebec and the strong decline in the shrimp abundance of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) is a concern for the future of this commercial fishery. There is a lot of media attention on this regional issue.

Media Lines:

• The current situation of the shrimp fishery is a priority for the Department and we fully recognize the importance of this industry for the economy in Quebec
• DFO is in regular contact with members of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Shrimp Advisory Committee to provide updates on the situation. DFO also monitors landings very closely
• A first meeting was held in June and at the request of the industry, DFO provided an in-depth economic analysis. The industry expressed its expectations and concerns for the future of the commercial shrimp fishery
• A meeting was planned for July 20 with shrimp boats' representatives but has been postponed; a new date is yet to be determined. In the meantime, DFO remains available to hold virtual calls or meetings at the request of industry representatives
• At the present time, DFO cannot yet comment on the level of harvests that will be recommended next year
• The scientists' work is underway, and the next survey is scheduled for the summer. We must await the outcome of this work
• The Department must base its fisheries management decisions on the latest scientific evidence