Fisheries Act

Government of Canada announces protection measures for Southern Resident killer whales

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Marine Mammal Regulations, Whale, Risk, Tourism, Education, Transport Canada, Noise, Pacific Ocean, Canadian Coast Guard, Salish Sea, Survival, Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ECHO, Fisheries Act, DFO, Climate change, Research, Strait, Port of Vancouver, Government, Ship, Pacheedaht First Nation, Boundary Pass, Salmon, Mouth, Species at Risk Act, Animal, Government of Canada, Environment, Federation, Fraser, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Whaling, Ucluelet, Indigenous peoples, Fishery, Observation, Haro Strait

An agreement with local whale watching and ecotourism industry partners to abstain from offering or promoting tours viewing Southern Resident killer whales.

Key Points: 
  • An agreement with local whale watching and ecotourism industry partners to abstain from offering or promoting tours viewing Southern Resident killer whales.
  • The effective protection and recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale requires long-term, collective commitment from the Government of Canada and other partners.
  • That's why, for the fifth straight year, we are putting in place protective measures to help protect Southern Resident killer whales.
  • Canada's Oceans Protection Plan , Whales Initiative , and an additional federal investment of $61.5 million are supporting the survival and recovery of Southern Resident killer whales, North Atlantic right whales, and St. Lawrence Estuary belugas by implementing protection measures, increasing research, and monitoring activities and taking action to address key threats.

Statement - Minister Guilbeault provides an update on federal action to address the ongoing spill situation at the Kearl Oil Sands Mine

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 17, 2023
Imperial Oil, Fisheries Act (Canada), Monitoring, QC, Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries Act, Fort Chipewyan, Climate change, Government, Water supply, Environment, Federation, Fishery, Indigenous

I find this deeply concerning and expressed as much to my counterpart in Alberta.

Key Points: 
  • I find this deeply concerning and expressed as much to my counterpart in Alberta.
  • "We hear loud and clear the concerns being expressed by Indigenous communities regarding the management of the tailings and their potential impacts on their local environment and communities.
  • We have been in continuous contact with them, providing support through sharing information and addressing water supply concerns within federal jurisdiction.
  • We are proposing a governance structure that includes co-chairs with representation from the federal, provincial, and Indigenous communities.

Oceana Canada to DFO: 2023 Fishing Quota Decisions Must Mark the Turning Point in Rebuilding the Long-Term Health of Fisheries and Oceans

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Knowledge, Canada, Plastic, Fisheries Act (Canada), Food, Policy, Fishery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fisheries Act, DFO, Government, Science, Organization, Indigenous peoples, Climate change, Integration, Hearing, Federation, Health, Fishing, Aquaculture, Whaling

“Overfishing has led to a largely avoidable fisheries crisis that has hurt communities and the health of a resilient ocean for decades.

Key Points: 
  • “Overfishing has led to a largely avoidable fisheries crisis that has hurt communities and the health of a resilient ocean for decades.
  • Now is the time to turn away from the short-term thinking that has created this crisis,” said Rebecca Schijns, Fishery Scientist at Oceana Canada.
  • There has been no change to overall fisheries health, with only 1/3 of stocks considered healthy.
  • “There is an urgent need to accelerate government action to bring Canada’s fish populations back to health,” said Dr. Robert Rangeley, Science Director at Oceana Canada.

Keller Foundations Ltd. fined $1 million for depositing harmful concrete leachate into groundwater that flowed into Larson Creek, British Columbia

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Fisheries Act (Canada), Skamania, Registry, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries Act, Climate change, Government, Rainbow trout, Death, Fishery, Provincial Court of British Columbia, Water, Groundwater, Biophysical environment, Government of Canada, Environment, Fund, Trout, Provincial and territorial courts in Canada, Aquaculture, Larson Creek

The charge stemmed from an investigation into the deaths of approximately 85 Cutthroat Trout in Larson Creek in West Vancouver.

Key Points: 
  • The charge stemmed from an investigation into the deaths of approximately 85 Cutthroat Trout in Larson Creek in West Vancouver.
  • On April 30, 2018, Environment and Climate Change Canada environmental enforcement officers were notified of dead fish in Larson Creek.
  • After an investigation, they determined that Keller Foundations Ltd.'s construction activities led to a discharge of concrete leachate into groundwater that flowed into Larson Creek.
  • The Fund receives and redirects the money from court penalties and settlements, usually investing in areas where the environmental damage occurred.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada fined $1 million for Fisheries Act violation

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Fisheries Act (Canada), Grenadier Island (Saint Lawrence River), Registry, St. Lawrence River, Gasoline, Court of Quebec, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries Act, Climate change, Government, Fishery, Water, Biophysical environment, Government of Canada Building (North York), Lake Saint-Louis, Environment, Government of Canada, Fund, Aquaculture

On April 4, 2023, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada was ordered by the Court of Quebec to pay $1 million after pleading guilty in the Montréal courthouse to one count of violating the Fisheries Act.

Key Points: 
  • On April 4, 2023, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada was ordered by the Court of Quebec to pay $1 million after pleading guilty in the Montréal courthouse to one count of violating the Fisheries Act.
  • Depositing a deleterious substance in water frequented by fish, or in any place where the substance may enter any such water, is a violation of the Fisheries Act.
  • The waters of Bouchard Creek and Lake Saint-Louis are frequented by fish, as defined in the Fisheries Act.
  • Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Statement by Minister Guilbeault on ongoing spill situation at Imperial Oil's Kearl Oil Sands Processing Plant and Mine

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
EDGE, Ministry of Energy (Alberta), Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Trust, Climate change, Fisheries Act (Canada), Environment, Imperial Oil, Alberta Energy Regulator, Imperial, Communication, Fisheries Act, Fishery, Protected area, Oil

"The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, met yesterday evening with the Honourable Sonya Savage, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas for Alberta, regarding the ongoing spill situation at the Kearl Oil Sands Mine.

Key Points: 
  • "The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, met yesterday evening with the Honourable Sonya Savage, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas for Alberta, regarding the ongoing spill situation at the Kearl Oil Sands Mine.
  • "Minister Guilbeault reiterated his commitment to take a collaborative approach to the situation.
  • Minister Guilbeault underlined that Imperial Oil's own stated failures of communication were unacceptable and have raised broader concerns regarding the efficacy of existing notification systems through Alberta (EDGE).
  • "Minister Guilbeault also introduced the idea of a joint federal-provincial-Indigenous working group, with participation from the oil companies, to address the immediate concerns around the Kearl Oil Sands Mine situation to restore trust and give transparency to all parties involved.

Statement on Seabed Mining

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Production, Science, Natural Resources, Life, Oceans Act of 2000, International Seabed Authority, Fisheries Act, Climate change, Biodiversity loss, Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace, Legislation, Indigenous peoples, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Prosperity, Health, Canadian Coast Guard, Biodiversity, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Environment minister, Mining, Fisheries Act (Canada), United Nations Convention, Species at Risk Act, Government of Canada, Sea, Environment, Dredging, Fishery

Canada does not presently have a domestic legal framework that would permit seabed mining and, in the absence of a rigorous regulatory structure, will not authorize seabed mining in areas under its jurisdiction.

Key Points: 
  • Canada does not presently have a domestic legal framework that would permit seabed mining and, in the absence of a rigorous regulatory structure, will not authorize seabed mining in areas under its jurisdiction.
  • Due diligence, as well as precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches, must be exercised with respect to decision-making regarding seabed mineral activity and governance.
  • Indigenous Peoples, industry, provinces and territories, and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, must also have the opportunity to be engaged on Canada's seabed mineral governance.
  • Seabed mining should only take place if effective protection of the marine environment is provided through a rigorous regulatory structure, applying precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches, using science-based and transparent management, and ensuring effective compliance with a robust inspection mechanism.

The Barclay Construction Group Inc. agreed to pay $175K to the Environmental Damages Fund as part of an alternative measures agreement related to excavation work near Lake Ontario

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Government of Canada Building (North York), Environment, Government of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Water, Fisheries Act, Fishery, Climate change, Government, Criminal code, Pier, Salmon, Fund, Fisheries Act (Canada), Smallmouth bass, The Criminal Code, Exercise, Trout, Aquaculture, Walleye

An alternative measures agreement has been concluded between the Government of Canada and The Barclay Construction Group Inc. As a result of the agreement, the company has agreed to pay $175,000 to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund.

Key Points: 
  • An alternative measures agreement has been concluded between the Government of Canada and The Barclay Construction Group Inc. As a result of the agreement, the company has agreed to pay $175,000 to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund.
  • The charges, which have since been stayed, were related to an incident where sediment-contaminated water was deposited into Lake Ontario.
  • After an investigation, officers determined that The Barclay Construction Group Inc. was responsible for the ongoing work at Pier 12.
  • Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Teck Metals Ltd. ordered to pay a $2.2 million fine for unlawful deposit of effluent into the Columbia River

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Government of Canada, Government, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Climate change, Provincial and territorial courts in Canada, Fishery, Biophysical environment, Knowledge, Water, Provincial Court of British Columbia, National Environmental Management Act, 1998, Fund, Fisheries Act, Environment, Emergency management, Columbia River, Registry, Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, Aquaculture

The charges stem from a 2019 release of effluent into the Columbia River.

Key Points: 
  • The charges stem from a 2019 release of effluent into the Columbia River.
  • The federal fine of $2 million will be directed to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund.
  • In relation to the provincial charges, Teck Metal Ltd. was ordered to pay a total fine of $200,000.
  • The Fund helps ensure that court-awarded penalties are used to support projects that restore the natural environment and conserve wildlife.

Government of Canada welcomes Canada's newest fishery officers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Coast, Partnership, Atlantic Ocean, Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996, Canadian Coast Guard, Survival, PEI, Remembrance, Aquaculture, Fishery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

SUMMERSIDE, PEI, Dec. 15, 2022 /CNW/ -Fisheries and Oceans Canada is proud to welcome the latest troop of graduates to the ranks of Canada's contingent of over 600 fishery officers.

Key Points: 
  • SUMMERSIDE, PEI, Dec. 15, 2022 /CNW/ -Fisheries and Oceans Canada is proud to welcome the latest troop of graduates to the ranks of Canada's contingent of over 600 fishery officers.
  • Canada's fishery officers are professionally trained peace officers working in communities across our country to conserve and protect our freshwater and marine fisheries resources and habitats.
  • Having now completed their initial training, the new officers will undergo 30 months of practical training in Fisheries and Oceans Canada field offices across the country.
  • The survival and restoration of Canada's ecosystems and natural environment are owed in part to our fishery officers."