FCC Responds to the Fisheries Act amendments

OTTAWA, February 6, 2018 – The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC), in response to the tabling of amendments to the Fisheries Act, is cautious but hopeful the proposed legislative framework will facilitate and enable the fisheries sector to be prosperous long into the future.

Paul Lansbergen, FCC President, said, “The Minister has taken a strategic approach to restoring and introducing new protections in the Act. The sustainability of our fish resources is vital to our future. We look forward to working with the government and Parliamentarians on the details of the Bill and subsequent regulations.”

The amendments are seventy-six pages in length. It will take time to review, digest and analyze the Bill. The Council is pleased the Minister did not just restore old protections but in modernizing the Act, the scope of changes is more complex. The future of the fisheries sector depends on this framework legislation.

“The Fisheries Act is our bible, governing all aspects of the fisheries sector. The amendments are far-reaching and some implications may not appear for years to come,” Lansbergen said. He went on to say, “It is critical that we have an open and honest discussion to make sure we get it right.”

The Canadian seafood industry creates 80,000 direct jobs, mainly in coastal and rural communities, and accounts for $6.6 billion in exports. 80 per cent of Canadian wild seafood production by value is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, the international gold standard for measuring fishery sustainability.

Since the Council was established in 1915, the Fisheries Council of Canada has been the national voice for Canada’s commercial fisheries. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest fish in Canada’s three oceans and inland waters. Member companies are also processors who process the majority of Canada’s fish and seafood production. FCC members take pride in being key employers in their communities, providing jobs and creating an economic base for other local businesses.

For further information: Fisheries Council of Canada, info@fisheriescouncil.org

February 6, 2018 – FCC Responds to the Fisheries Act amendments