Tag Archives: Fisheries Act
Prince Rupert Sends Letter to Fisheries Minister On Importance of Processing Fish At Home
Councillor Joy Thorkelson presented a motion to council to have the letter ask for better policies to ensure Canadian fish caught at home is processed at home instead of somewhere overseas. “An example is pink salmon is being frozen and sent to China, Vietnam, or the Philippines for processing. We’re buying it back in Canada when it’s processed in Asia. Those are our jobs. Those are Canadian jobs, those are good union jobs that support this community. We used to have 750 people working; this year had about 135 people working processing fish.” click here to read the story 22:59
Nunavut court: case alleging illegal turbot fishing to go ahead
Despite the length of time their case has sat before the Nunavut court, a subsidiary of the Baffin Fisheries Coalition, along with the captain of one of the company’s fishing vessels, will still stand trial for fishing in illegal waters. That’s according to a written decision, released Dec. 12, from Justice Bonnie Tulloch of the Nunavut Court of Justice. The trial of Oujukoaq Fisheries Ltd. and its employee, David Dempsey, has twice been scheduled to proceed in an Iqaluit courtroom, most recently from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9, 2016. The co-accused face a single charge each under the Fisheries Act, dating to 2012, that alleges illegal turbot fishing in a prohibited area. But an application from defence lawyers to dismiss those charges due to unreasonable delays, filed in October 2016, cancelled the most recent trial date. Now, in her decision, Tulloch rejected that application and said the trial should be rescheduled as soon as possible. “It is a case with far-reaching implications for commercial fishermen in Canada. It is a case that deserves to be decided on its merit,” Tulloch said. Read the story here 11:39
Maple Ridge B.C. seeks restoration of federal Fisheries Act
Maple Ridge is talking tough to the federal Liberals when it comes to protecting fish – the same way it did to the Tories four years ago. A Nov. 28 letter from Mayor Nicole Read asks the Liberal government to restore the previous “ecosystems-based approach” to the Fisheries Act. Maple Ridge also wants “clear and meaningful definitions” in any new Fisheries Act and wants public involvement and disclosure of the scientific basis for changing the act. A parliamentary committee is reviewing the Fisheries Act, following drastic changes made by the preceding Conservatives, which removed fish habitat protection. The 2012 changes to the Fisheries Act removed general projection of fish habitat and focused on projecting aboriginal, sport or commercial fisheries from “serious harm.” This fall, the new government asked for public input on how the Fisheries Act could be restored Read the story here 15:22
Save wild salmon, support Bill C-228
Early this year, Bill C-228 – a private member’s bill, was introduced to amend the Fisheries Act (closed containment aquaculture) to require finfish aquaculture for commercial purposes, in Canadian fisheries’ waters off the Pacific Coast, be carried out in closed-containment facilities. It also requires the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to prepare, table in Parliament and implement a plan, to support the transition to the use of closed containment facilities, and to protect the jobs and financial security of workers in that sector. Click here to read Bill C-228 The bill is expected to go to second reading in the House of Commons this fall. Show your support for Bill C-228. Add your name to the e-petition. Link 08:55
Three men charged with fishing offences in Victoria County
Three Cape Breton commercial fishermen were arraigned in Ingonish provincial court Thursday for alleged fishing violations. Robert Courtney, 63, faces eight charges, including two counts of failing to hail, or count, the accurate round weight of fish on board his vessel. He also faces two charges of failing to enter an accurate amount of fish caught in monitoring documents and two charges of producing other documents that contain false or misleading information. Courtney is also twice charged with hindering or obstructing a fishery officer from,,, Read the article here 10:24
Panther Industries Inc. and West Coast Reduction Ltd. Fined for Violating Fisheries Act
Investigators with Environment Canada levied fines against companies based in Alberta and British Columbia in late July, in two separate incidents, for offenses under the Canada’s Fisheries Act. The Canadian agency said that Panther Industries (Alberta) Inc. pleaded guilty on July 28 in Alberta Provincial Court to violations under the Fisheries Act, West Coast Reduction Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been ordered to pay $90,000 in Vancouver Provincial Court after pleading guilty to an offense under Canada’s Fisheries Act. Read the rest here 22:20
Changes to the Fisheries Act have some people concerned of potential harm to Atlantic Canada’s coast.
“All other industries have been able to comply with the general provisions of this act and still remain viable,” Bill Ernst, a former toxicologist with Environment Canada, told reporters on Tuesday. “In my opinion, the reason that the changes are being made is just to reduce the oversight of Environment Canada, who is the administrator of that section of the [Fisheries] Act and allow the industry more free access to some of the higher-risk chemicals” used to kill sea lice. Read the rest here 15:06
Few native fishing complaints valid: MNRF
It’s too early to say much about an allegation that commercial fishermen may be responsible for the presence of 14 fish found on shore,,, Chief Vern Roote said Friday in an interview that racism fuels a lot of people who “nitpick” about the commercial fishery, which is controlled by the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Read the rest here 19:25
RCMP to square off against aboriginals in a fight over an imminent commercial roe-herring fishery.
The federal government has chosen a remote stretch of B.C. coastline to square off against aboriginals in a fight over an imminent commercial roe-herring fishery. The Heiltsuk have issued a statement saying, “We will exercise our authority to stop any commercial herring activity in our territories. We will protect our aboriginal rights to the fullest extent possible should commercial fishers not abide by the ban.” It’s real,” he said of the prospect for confrontation. Read more here vancouversun 06:59
The fish farm industry is taking its fight for leniency from fisheries laws to the Canadian Senate.
The Senate voted this week to have its fisheries and oceans committee study the rules that govern aquaculture in Canada. The industry says they are being stifled by the red tape contained in the conservation rules in the Fisheries Act. Other groups, including some fishermen associations, are uneasy with the idea of loosening the rules for fish farms. more@chronickleherald 16:21
New fines, policy in place for Fisheries Act – Environmental groups disappointed with changes
The amendments include an increase in the penalties under s. 40 of the act including a minimum fine of $500,000 for large corporations and a maximum $6 million fine for companies on first offences (on indictment) and that doubles on second offences for environmental provisions (fines on illegal fishing have not changed). more@canadianlawyermag 20:01
Gang Green Canada Cry’s Foul. Controversial changes to Fisheries Act guided by industry demands
The federal Conservative government consulted with both environmental organizations and industry associations before making controversial changes to the Fisheries Act last year, but listened primarily to industry. When a section of one of the government’s massive 2012 omnibus budget bills limited the scope of the legislation governing the protection of fish and their habitats, some ecologists said it was the biggest setback to conservation law in more than 50 years. @globeandmail
Northern cod threatened by new fisheries rules – A Department of Fisheries and Oceans plan to increase northern cod quotas could devastate the species.
Governments should be informed by the best available data and evidence. There are societal, environmental, and economic ramifications of not doing so. Despite this, some decision-makers appear to attach little value to scientific advice. Changes to the Fisheries Act in 2012 provide one example. Another was very quietly communicated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) late last week. continued@ the star.com
Research questions need for Ottawa to streamline environmental assessments
De Kerckhove, a University of Toronto PhD candidate, analyzed 10 years worth of data from Department of Fisheries and Oceans annual reports on the progress of environmental assessments triggered under the Fisheries Act. That legislation generates more such reviews than almost any other — anywhere from 7,700 to more than 12,000 in a single year. His paper, published last month in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Acquatic Sciences, found that simple reviews in which impacts on fish habitat could be fixed were completed within months, 19 times out of 20. continued