Summary#
This bill changes the federal Fisheries Act to set common rules for Atlantic recreational groundfish fishing and to improve reporting and monitoring. It requires harmonized “close times” (periods when fishing is not allowed) across Atlantic provinces for recreational groundfish and ties those closures to spawning seasons only. It adds new reporting powers, mandates advance online notice for closures and quotas, and orders the Minister to build a catch monitoring system within one year.
- Harmonizes recreational groundfish close times across NL, NS, NB, and PEI (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- Limits recreational close times to each species’ spawning period (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- Requires at least 2 months’ public notice online before close times or quotas take effect (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- Expands record-keeping powers to include number of fish caught per day and per season (Bill: s.61(2)(e.1)).
- Orders a monitoring system to record species, number, time, and place of catch within 1 year of coming into force (Bill: Monitoring System s.(1)-(2)).
- Adds “stability and predictability for recreational groundfishers” as a decision-making factor (Bill: s.2.5(g.1)).
- Keeps an annual report to Parliament on administration and enforcement (Bill: s.42.1(1)).
What it means for you#
- Households and recreational anglers
- Recreational groundfish seasons will match across Atlantic provinces. Expect the same open and close dates in NL, NS, NB, and PEI once regulations are updated (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- Closure dates can only be set to cover the species’ spawning period. Closures for other reasons will not be used for recreational groundfish close times (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- You may be required to report how many fish you catch each day and your total for the season, by species. This could be via logbook, app, or other system set by the Minister (Bill: s.61(2)(e.1); Monitoring System s.(1)).
- The Department must give at least 2 months’ notice online before new closures or quota changes take effect. You will have more lead time to plan trips (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- Charter operators and tourism businesses
- Uniform seasons across provinces may simplify booking and marketing across borders in Atlantic Canada (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- You may face new reporting steps for clients’ catches, including species, counts, time, and location, depending on how the system is designed (Bill: s.61(2)(e.1); Monitoring System s.(1)-(2)).
- Advance online notice of closures and quotas (2 months minimum) can reduce last-minute cancellations (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- Commercial fishers
- Any fishing quota or closure set or varied by regulation or variation order must be posted online at least 2 months before it starts. This affects commercial quotas as well (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- The bill does not create new commercial catch reporting here, but some operational timelines may shift due to the 2‑month notice rule (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- Provinces and territories (Atlantic)
- Federal regulations will harmonize recreational groundfish close times across Atlantic provinces. Provincial coordination with DFO may be needed to align communications and enforcement (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- Indigenous communities and rights-holders
- The bill does not change Indigenous rights. It adds federal monitoring and notice requirements that could affect timing of regulations in shared waters (Bill: publication clause under s.43; Monitoring System s.(1)).
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)
- Must publish any close times or quota changes at least 2 months before they take effect (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- Must develop, within 1 year of the Act coming into force, a monitoring system that records species, number, time, and place of catch; consider funding it with existing fees and penalties; and add incentives for timely reporting (Bill: Monitoring System s.(1)-(2)).
- Must continue annual reporting to Parliament on administration and enforcement (Bill: s.42.1(1)).
Expenses#
Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.
- No fiscal note or appropriation is included in the bill text. Data unavailable.
- Required activities with potential costs:
- Design and implement a monitoring system within 1 year, including stakeholder consultation (Bill: Monitoring System s.(1)-(2)). Data unavailable.
- Expand public communications to meet the 2‑month online posting rule for closures and quotas (Bill: publication clause under s.43). Data unavailable.
- Administer added record-keeping and reporting requirements (Bill: s.61(2)(e.1)). Data unavailable.
- Potential cost recovery:
- The Minister must examine covering administrative costs through existing fees and penalties and consider fee reductions as reporting incentives (Bill: Monitoring System s.(2)(b)-(c)). Data unavailable.
Proponents' View#
- Harmonized seasons make rules clear for anglers and businesses across the Atlantic region, improving planning and compliance (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- Tying closures to spawning protects reproduction while keeping other times open, which backers say balances conservation with access (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- A 2‑month online notice reduces surprise changes, supports trip planning and bookings, and may improve compliance and safety (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- Expanded reporting powers and a modern monitoring system will give better data on recreational removals by species, time, and place, improving stock assessments (Bill: s.61(2)(e.1); Monitoring System s.(1)).
- Examining use of existing fees and penalties to fund the system could limit new costs to taxpayers, while fee reductions can reward timely reporting (Bill: Monitoring System s.(2)(b)-(c)).
- Adding “stability and predictability” as a factor ensures recreational fishers’ interests are considered alongside other objectives (Bill: s.2.5(g.1)).
Opponents' View#
- Limiting recreational close times to spawning periods could reduce flexibility to address other risks, such as poor stock status, bycatch, or ecosystem stress outside spawning windows (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).
- The 2‑month advance notice may hinder rapid response to unforeseen events (e.g., sudden stock declines or gear conflicts), delaying needed management actions (Bill: publication clause under s.43).
- New reporting duties could burden anglers and charter operators and may face low compliance without strong outreach and simple tools (Bill: s.61(2)(e.1); Monitoring System s.(1)-(2)).
- The bill mandates a monitoring system but gives no budget; shifting costs to fees and penalties could raise costs for participants, while fee reductions as incentives may reduce revenue (Bill: Monitoring System s.(2)(b)-(c)). Data unavailable.
- The bill does not specify privacy safeguards for time-and-location catch data; opponents may seek clear limits on data use and retention in regulations (Bill: Monitoring System s.(1)-(2)).
- Harmonizing seasons across provinces may ignore local ecological differences and community needs, reducing room for region-specific management (Bill: new s.43(1.1)).