C-237 (45-1) - An Act to amend the Fisheries Act (Atlantic groundfish fisheries)
Chamber
commons
Stage
2nd Reading
Introduced
Sep 22, 2025
Progress
This bill standardizes recreational groundfish fishing rules across Atlantic provinces and creates a new fish catch monitoring system.
Key Changes
- Close times for recreational groundfish fishing must be harmonized across all Atlantic provinces and can only be set during a species' spawning period
- Changes to close times or fishing quotas must be published online at least two months before taking effect
- The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans must submit an annual report to Parliament on administration and enforcement of the Fisheries Act
- Individuals may be required to report daily fish catches and total catches per open season
- The Minister must develop a fish catch monitoring system within one year, tracking species, time, and location of catches
- The principle of stability and predictability for recreational groundfish fishers is added to the Act's guiding considerations
Gotchas
- The bill does not specify how the monitoring system will be enforced or what penalties apply for non-compliance with reporting obligations
- Administrative costs for the monitoring system may be covered by fees and penalties paid under the Fisheries Act, which could affect fishers financially
- The bill proposes fee reductions as an incentive for timely reporting, but does not guarantee or specify the amount of any such reductions
- Harmonizing close times across provinces may override existing provincial or regional fishing schedules, potentially affecting local fishing traditions or practices
- The one-year timeline for developing the monitoring system is set, but no deadline is given for when the system must be fully operational
Who's Affected
- Recreational groundfish fishers in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Minister
- Commercial fishers who may be subject to new reporting requirements
- Fishing industry stakeholders consulted on the monitoring system
- Parliament, which will receive new annual reports
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- The bill does not specify how the monitoring system will be enforced or what penalties apply for non-compliance with reporting obligations
- Administrative costs for the monitoring system may be covered by fees and penalties paid under the Fisheries Act, which could affect fishers financially
- The bill proposes fee reductions as an incentive for timely reporting, but does not guarantee or specify the amount of any such reductions
- Harmonizing close times across provinces may override existing provincial or regional fishing schedules, potentially affecting local fishing traditions or practices
- The one-year timeline for developing the monitoring system is set, but no deadline is given for when the system must be fully operational
Summary
Bill C-237 amends the Fisheries Act to improve how Atlantic groundfish fisheries are managed, particularly for recreational fishing. It requires that the rules about when fishing is closed (called 'close times') be the same across all Atlantic provinces, and that these closures only happen during a fish species' spawning period. It also requires that any changes to fishing rules or quotas be posted online at least two months before they take effect, giving fishers more advance notice. The bill also requires the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to develop a monitoring system within one year that tracks how many fish are caught, by species, and records when and where they were caught. This system would be developed with input from key stakeholders. The Minister must also submit an annual report to Parliament on how the Fisheries Act is being administered and enforced. This bill was introduced to bring more consistency, transparency, and predictability to recreational groundfish fishing in Atlantic Canada, and to improve data collection on fish catches to support better fisheries management.
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Vibes
0 responses