The House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met to study the factors determining the opening and closing dates of marine harvesting seasons. Witnesses included Alberto Wareham, President and CEO of Icewater Seafoods Inc.; Chief Andrea Paul, Regional Chief of Nova Scotia for the Assembly of First Nations; Jason McLinton, President of the Fisheries Council of Canada; Grant Dovey, a member of the Fisheries Council of Canada; Claire Mavin, a commercial harvester appearing as an individual; Ghislain Cyr, a retired fisherman appearing as an individual; Michael Barron, President of the Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association; and Aidan Fisher, Co-Chair of the Joint Technical Committee for the Fraser Salmon Management Board.
Alberto Wareham focused on the northern cod fishery, emphasizing that timely openings are critical because cod migrate inshore during summer and are most accessible to small day boats then. He noted that in 2025, a delayed opening until mid-July left about 5,650 metric tons of the inshore allocation uncaught, costing plant workers over $3 million in lost wages and harvesters over $12 million in potential income. He recommended that the season open on July 1, immediately after the spawning closure, and that the government speed up the decision-making process, as the current paper-based licensing system requires two weeks' notice before an opening can occur.
Chief Andrea Paul argued that the timing of fisheries openings and closures reflects broader governance issues, not just operational scheduling, and that first nations' section 35 rights are not consistently respected in practice. She stated that decisions remain centralized and often fail to incorporate indigenous knowledge or align with first nations priorities, leading to reduced access for food, social, and ceremonial fisheries. She recommended moving toward co-developed decision-making and fully implementing existing commitments under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Jason McLinton said that for most fisheries, Canada's processes for determining opening and closing dates work well, but there is room for continuous improvement through predictability, timeliness, and robust core fisheries science. He recommended that the government invest more in core fisheries science, partner with industry to use industry-collected data, and provide ample notice of dates. He noted that challenges are more common on the Pacific coast, where decisions often come late.
Grant Dovey, speaking about Pacific fisheries, gave the example of the prawn fishery, where the integrated fisheries management plan was not released until late April and the official fishery notice came only six days before the May 13 opening, creating logistical difficulties. He also described situations where first nations unilaterally declared indigenous protected and conserved areas mid-season, creating conflict on the water and preventing the completion of quotas, and recommended that such areas be discussed and incorporated into management plans before seasons begin.
Claire Mavin testified that delayed and unpredictable notifications from DFO have severe consequences for harvesters, including increased costs, reduced earnings, and unsafe fishing conditions. She highlighted the salmon troll fishery, where late openings mean most of the stock has already migrated past, leaving about half the quota unfulfilled, and said that preferential access for other user groups pushes the commercial fleet to fish last. She urged the committee to demand transparent, standardized timelines for openings and closures and to restore equitable access for the commercial troll fleet.
Ghislain Cyr emphasized the need for an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, noting rapid changes in temperature, predation, and species distribution. He criticized the mackerel fishery for being opened only for bait during the spawning period and using gillnets, which cause high unrecorded mortality of large spawners, and recommended fishing with hooks after spawning, from August onward, to allow for human consumption. He also said that fishers' experience is undervalued by DFO and that trust in scientists is declining, and he called for more listening to fishers and for predictability in management decisions.
Michael Barron discussed lobster season adjustments in eastern Nova Scotia, stressing that each lobster fishing area is different and that safety must remain the top priority in setting seasons. He noted that communication between DFO and harvesters can break down in large areas, and that climate change is affecting lobster movement and molting periods. He also raised concerns that bait conditions for LFA 27 were not released until late May, after the season had already started, causing harvesters to miss key bait opportunities, and recommended that local knowledge and practical experience be respected alongside scientific advice.
Aidan Fisher explained that the Fraser Salmon Management Board and Joint Technical Committee were created under the 2019 collaborative management agreement between Canada and 81 first nations to co-govern Fraser salmon. He said that while the joint technical committee has produced consensus technical recommendations, the board has struggled to reach consensus on management issues, particularly for chinook, and has entered dispute resolution multiple times. He noted that DFO still handles most operational decisions like openings and allocations, and that there appears to be hesitancy to fully commit to the collaborative management agreement.
The committee heard questions from members on topics including the economic impact of delayed openings, the need for electronic licensing, the role of indigenous knowledge, and the challenges of mixed-stock fisheries. No procedural debate, motions, or votes occurred during the meeting.
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