Forward Regulatory Plan 2019-2021

A forward regulatory plan is a public list or description of anticipated regulatory changes or actions that a department intends to bring forward or undertake in a specified time frame. It is intended to give consumers, business, other stakeholders and trading partners greater opportunity to inform the development of regulations and to plan for the future. It should be noted that this forward regulatory plan will be adjusted and updated over time as Fisheries and Oceans Canada's operating environment also changes over time.

This plan provided information on regulatory proposals that Fisheries and Oceans Canada expects to bring forward over the next two years. It also identifies public consultation opportunities and a departmental contact point for each regulatory initiative.

Proposed regulatory initiatives

Fisheries management

• Coastal Fishery Protection Regulations (Port State Measures)
• Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations (Sport Fishing licence fees)
• British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations - Possession and Transport
• Nunavut Fishery Regulations
• Mackerel Recreational Fishery Yearly Close Time and Daily Fishing Quota (Atlantic Fishery Regulations)
• Atlantic Fishery Regulations (1985) – Tending of Fishing Gear

Aquaculture management

• General Aquaculture Regulations
• Targeted Regulatory Review: Agri-food and Aquaculture Roadmap

Fish and fish habitat protection

• Authorizing Routine Works, Undertakings and Activities Regulations
• Designation of Projects Regulations
• Updates to the Applications for Authorization under paragraph 35(2)(b) of the Fisheries Act Regulation
• Amendment to s.8(1) of the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993

Enforcement

• Amendments required to schedules of the Contraventions Regulations regarding various regulations under the Fisheries Act

Fisheries Policy

• Amendments aimed at preserving the independence of commercial inshore and coastal licence holders
• Regulations regarding rebuilding plans and the listing of major fish stocks
• Professionalization (regulatory amendments for fish harvester registration)

Marine protected areas and marine conservation

• Marine Protected Areas
• Biodiversity Protection Regulations (s.43.3 of the Fisheries Act)

Species at risk (aquatic)

• Proposed Listing Decisions for aquatic species under the Species at Risk Act
• Orders for the critical habitat of aquatic species listed under the Species at Risk Act

Long term regulatory initiatives (5 years)

Fisheries management

• British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations, 1996 (Halibut No-fee Licence)
• British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations, 1996 (Omnibus amendments)

For more information

• Government-Wide Forward Regulatory Plans
• The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management
• The Federal regulatory management and modernization

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.