Coastal Fisheries Protection Act

Fisheries Act

Purposes and Interpretation

1. The purposes of this Act are to conserve and manage marine fish resources under Canadian jurisdiction, provide for their sustainable use by Canadians, promote economic growth, support social well-being, and maintain ecosystem health.
2. This Act shall be construed and applied in a manner that is consistent with the objectives of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.

Canadian Fishing Vessel

1. For the purposes of this Act,

   • "Canadian fishing vessel" means a fishing vessel that has been issued a licence under subsection 6(1) and is operated by a person to whom the licence was issued, or
   • "fishing vessel in Canadian waters" means a foreign fishing vessel that has entered Canadian fisheries waters with the authorization of the Minister.

Importation of Fish and Marine Plants

1. No person shall import any fish or marine plant knowing it to have been taken, harvested, possessed, transported, distributed or sold contrary to an international fisheries treaty or arrangement to which Canada is party, including any conservation, management or enforcement measures taken under the treaty or arrangement.

Prohibition on Canadian Fishing Vessels

1. No person being aboard a Canadian fishing vessel shall bring into Canadian fisheries waters fish received outside Canadian fisheries waters from a foreign fishing vessel unless authorized by regulation.

Conservation and Management Measures for the NAFO Regulatory Area

5.1-5.3 Parliament declares that the purpose of sections 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 is to enable Canada to take urgent action necessary to prevent further destruction of straddling stocks on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and to permit their rebuilding.

Prohibition on Foreign Fishing Vessels

1. No fishing vessel of a state party to the Fish Stocks Agreement shall, in an area of the sea designated under subparagraph (e)(ii), contravene a measure or regulation designated under subparagraph (e)(i) or conceal its identity or registration.

Regulations

1. The Governor in Council may make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act including, but not limited to, regulations

   • for authorizing foreign fishing vessels to enter Canadian fisheries waters,
   • respecting the issuance, suspension and cancellation of licences,
   • prescribing measures for the conservation and management of straddling stocks.

Fish Stocks Agreement

1. The Fish Stocks Agreement is a United Nations treaty aimed at conserving and managing fish resources in the open sea beyond national jurisdiction.