What is the modernized Fisheries Act in Canada?

Highlights

• The previous Fisheries Act didn’t address whales in captivity or ban shark finning.
• The new Fisheries Act focuses on creating new fishery management tools for enhancing fish numbers and ecosystems protection.
• The new Fisheries Act provides various tools for fisheries for sustainable decision making, addressing habitat restoration, maintaining, and rebuilding fish stocks.

The increasing temperature and acidity in oceans are becoming a threat to fisheries. It can affect migratory patterns and habitats. So, to restore numbers and their habitats, the government of Canada has implemented the Fisheries Act in Canada. In this article, we will learn about the provisions in the modernized Fisheries Act that came into force on August 28, 2019.

Previous version of the Fisheries Act

Earlier, the Fisheries Act focused on protecting only commercial, recreational, or Aboriginal fisheries. Under the previous Act, the indigenous people did not have the right to participate in decision-making. The Act did not design any specific provisions for the independence of inshore license holders.

There was a lack of transparency in authorization of decisions and uncertainty about development projects. No provision was made for protecting marine biodiversity, addressing whales in captivity, and banning shark finning.

New version of the Fisheries Act

The new fisheries act was introduced to improve fisheries and their ecosystems and to protect marine resources for coming generations. It focuses on restoring lost protections and incorporating modern safeguards.

The new Fisheries Act includes the following provisions to protect fish and their habitat.

• Focuses on creating new fisheries management tools for enhancing fish and ecosystems protection.
• Focuses on prohibiting the shipping of shark finning.
• Focuses on strengthening marine habitat for protecting biodiversity for the long term.
• Focuses on protecting fish against harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction of fish habitat.
• It preserves or promotes the independence of license holders who are involved in commercial inshore fisheries.
• The new Fisheries Act quickly responds to accidental threats for managing and conserving fish.
• The development of codes of practice and regulations removes uncertainty when authorizations are needed for projects’ development.
• It helps in developing stable and resilient aquatic ecosystems

Also read: How are Arctic animals in Canada affected by climate change?

How does it conserve marine biodiversity?

For conserving marine biodiversity, it has included the provision of developing long-term area-based restrictions on fishing activities. The modernized Fisheries Act has authority for developing regulations regarding the rebuilding of fish stocks.

Under the new act, addressing unforeseen threats related to fish conservation and protection can be made. It also allows proper management and control of fisheries.

For addressing threats, this act provides new fisheries management tools. It allows for long-term fishing restrictions and to make biodiversity protection regulations.

For example, a restriction on vessels and fishing gear can be placed or a short-term pause on fishing activities in the areas where marine mammals are found vulnerable.

Also read: What plans & actions is Canada taking to tackle climate change?

Restoration of fish and habitat

The new Fisheries Act provides various tools for sustainable decision making, addressing habitat restoration, maintaining, and rebuilding fish stocks. The restoration helps in recovering fish stocks, protection from harm and various impacts, including damage and loss of habitat, and economic pressures.

Development projects

The new Fisheries Act will allow for the making of regulations regarding projects or parts of projects which will need a ministerial permit. The codes of practice will provide advice for small and routine projects on avoiding harm to the fish and fish habitats. 

It will be developed in collaboration with people who are interested in conserving fish and fish habitats, including Indigenous peoples, the industry and proponents, environmental groups, and provinces and territories.

Also read: What is the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999?

Reconciliation with indigenous people

Through this act, the Government enables Indigenous peoples to participate in monitoring, project reviews, and national policy development. The government has developed a partnership with Indigenous peoples for implementing these changes and allowing interested communities to take part in the protection of fish and fish habitats.

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Bottom line

Today, fish migration and habitats are affected by rising water temperatures and climate change. So, we need to protect fish and their habitats as they play an important part in our ecosystem by providing essential nutrients, animal protein, and supporting livelihoods. We can protect them by preventing water pollution, supporting sustainable fisheries, and reducing plastic pollution in oceans, rivers, seas, and ponds.