Government of Canada launches Indigenous Fisheries Monitoring Fund

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 8, 2024 /CNW/ - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recognizes that fisheries, oceans, aquatic habitat and marine waterways are of great social, cultural, spiritual and economic importance to many Indigenous peoples. Working with Indigenous peoples as they increase their capacity to monitor fisheries is key to providing dependable, timely, and accessible information for sustainable fisheries management.

Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced the launch of the $5-million Indigenous Fisheries Monitoring Fund. This funding supports Indigenous groups as they increase fisheries monitoring and catch reporting activities, which is crucial for maintaining sustainable fisheries. Fishery monitoring provides accurate information on fishing activities, such as how many fish are caught from each stock, and how many bycatch species are caught during a fishery.  

Eligible Indigenous groups can now submit their written proposal to DFO. Information on eligibility, how to apply and an application form can be found on DFO's Indigenous Fisheries Monitoring Fund webpage. The fund is open to applications until December 31, 2028.

This funding will promote the sharing of best practices and fishery monitoring data, to better inform decision-making for sustainable fisheries and demonstrate collaborative management of federally regulated fish stocks and populations across Canada.

Quote

"Indigenous harvesters have always made an important contribution to fishery monitoring and stewardship in Canada. This funding will support Indigenous groups as they continue the important work of fishery monitoring, which is essential to effective fish stock management in Canada."

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Quick Facts

• The Fishery Monitoring Policy sets the direction of how all federally managed wild capture fisheries and marine mammal harvests are monitored in order to provide dependable, timely, and accessible information crucial to sustainable fisheries management.
• Fishery monitoring tools and methods include data collection at-sea and dockside undertaken by fish harvesters and external sources, and includes the use of technology. For example, logbooks and creel surveys are completed by harvesters, while vessel monitoring systems, aerial gear counts, and port sampling are done by others.

Related Products:

• Indigenous Fisheries Monitoring Fund

Associated Links

• Fishery Monitoring Policy
• Introduction to the procedural steps for implementing the Fishery Monitoring Policy

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada

Contacts: Jean-Christophe Armstrong, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]