Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently announced it is taking additional steps to protect Atlantic Canada and Québec’s $3-billion annual inshore fishery, as it continues a comprehensive review of regulations that took effect in 2021.
The Inshore Regulations were introduced to clarify who can hold a licence, who must do the fishing, and who can make decisions about fishing activities. DFO began its review of the rules in February 2026.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced two new measures aimed at ensuring the economic benefits of fishing remain with independent harvesters and their communities.
“The inshore commercial fishing is at the heart of Eastern Canada. It’s part of who we are, and it supports families and communities right across the region. That’s why the Inshore Regulations are critical to keeping the benefits of fishing in the hands of independent harvesters and in turn, their communities.”
“The measures I’m announcing will strengthen these regulations and I want to hear directly from harvesters about how we can keep supporting them how they need,” added Thompson.
The first measure will tighten DFO’s enforcement of compliance with the Inshore Regulations when licences are transferred from one harvester to another.
Under the updated approach, applicants must have final agreements in place before applying for a licence transfer. They will also have 30 days to respond to questions or resolve any issues identified during the review process. If agreements are still found to be non-compliant, new entrant applicants will face a 12-month pause before they can reapply.
DFO said the changes respond directly to industry feedback on how the regulations are being applied.
The second measure involved a series of in-person and hybrid engagement sessions and town halls across Atlantic Canada this summer to gather feedback from harvesters and communities on the inshore regulations.
According to DFO, the review is intended to clarify and improve the rules, support the owner-operator model, respond to harvesters’ needs and strengthen coastal communities.
Topics to be reviewed include:
- Understanding use, control and transfer, including what is expected of licence holders;
- How financing and loan arrangements can influence licence holders’ business decisions;
- Intergenerational transfers, including passing the business to new entrants and family members; and
- Licence holder education, enterprise management and compliance obligations.
