Essential fish habitat

Full protections for fish and fish habitat under the modernized Fisheries Act now in force

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Fish conservation, Fish, Aquatic animals, Essential fish habitat, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Fish Hatchery System

On August 28, 2019, strengthened fish and fish habitat protection provisions under the modernized Fisheries Act, as well as regulations that support these provisions, officially come into force.

Key Points: 
  • On August 28, 2019, strengthened fish and fish habitat protection provisions under the modernized Fisheries Act, as well as regulations that support these provisions, officially come into force.
  • protection for all fish and fish habitats;
    restoring the previous prohibition against the "harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat"; and,
    "This is the culmination of a long journey to strengthen protections into the Fisheries Act.
  • With a modernized Fisheries Act, we now have the right tools in place to fully protect our fish and fish habitat from coast to coast to coast."
  • Additional Fisheries Act amendments, to provide for a public registry of decisions made under the fish and fish habitat protection provisions, will be brought into force at a later date.

Government of Canada supporting Indigenous participation in protecting fish and fish habitat

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 7, 2019
Fish conservation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fisheries protection, Essential fish habitat, Fisheries science, Government, Fish, Coast Salish people and salmon, Outline of fisheries

The Government of Canada continues to strengthen our relationships with Indigenous peoples across Canada and are working every day to foster a model of shared stewardship to improve Indigenous involvement in fisheries and oceans management.

Key Points: 
  • The Government of Canada continues to strengthen our relationships with Indigenous peoples across Canada and are working every day to foster a model of shared stewardship to improve Indigenous involvement in fisheries and oceans management.
  • To mark Indigenous History Month, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced $50 million in funding over five years for the new Indigenous Habitat Participation Program (IHPP) to support Indigenous communities in the conservation of fish and fish habitat.
  • This new national program will provide financial resources to support collaboration in decision-making, planning, management, conservation, protection, monitoring and data collection as it relates to fish and fish habitat.
  • The new Indigenous Habitat Participation Program will help ensure that Indigenous communities can work with the Government of Canada to provide guidance and advice to protect our environment and fish while we implement the new, modern Fisheries Act."