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Thursday, July 16, 2026
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Fisheries and Oceans

Feds’ ‘radio silence’ on fish-farm ban undermining trust, economic reconciliation, say wild salmon and aquaculture advocates

Both sides of B.C.’s salmon aquaculture dispute are demanding answers from Ottawa about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s commitment to his predecessor’s 2029 open-net pen farming ban.

news | BY STUART BENSON | May 6, 2026

‘It’s reconciliation’: Green Leader May endorses feds’ agreement with Musqueam Nation as minister clarifies private property concerns

The Musqueam Nation and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty have both issued statements following the agreements’ signing that the documents do not impact private property rights.

news | BY ELEANOR WAND | March 9, 2026

Defending Canada, where ocean capability runs deep 

Marine sensing systems, Arctic surveillance infrastructure, autonomous vessels, AI-enabled maritime platforms, and shipbuilding capacity are foundational to Canada’s sovereignty and economic resilience.

opinion | BY KENDRA MACDONALD | March 5, 2026

Nearly 2,000 jobs and $1.5-billion to be cut across five departments by 2030, PBO analysis shows

The Correctional Service and Fisheries and Oceans are among the five affected, but the Parliamentary Budget Office is now requesting information about how all departments will achieve the projected $60-billion in spending cuts by the end of the decade.

news | BY MARLO GLASS | January 8, 2026

Canada’s plan to boost its economy must include rebuilding wild fisheries

When wild fish populations are abundant, they support employment, export diversification, food security, and stable regional economies.

opinion | BY JOSH LAUGHREN | December 10, 2025
Joanne Thompson

Coastal communities ‘running out of time’ without fisheries fund renewal, say opposition critics as DFO faces $544M in cuts

While the government is fast-tracking national projects, it’s ‘reducing DFO’s ability to assess the risks these projects pose to critically important species like salmon,’ says B.C. professor Michael Price.

news | BY STUART BENSON | November 19, 2025

Q&A | Cod quota ‘pressure is enormous’ on fisheries minister

‘This is an unsafe way to proceed, and puts at risk this really delicate, slow recovery’, says Ocean Canada’s Josh Laughren of the Liberal decision to double the northern cod quota.

feature | BY PETER MAZEREEUW | July 21, 2025
Joanne Thompson

Federal fish science analyses continue to muddy the waters in salmon farm fight

Competing analyses are providing new ammunition in the debate over the link between sea lice, B.C.’s coastal salmon farms, and the feds’ upcoming 2029 open-net ban.

news | BY STUART BENSON | July 2, 2025

The markets are hungry for Canadian cod. Will we deliver?

With a decision from the fisheries minister expected any day now, the global and local realities of northern cod are aligning to create a well-timed economic opportunity.

opinion | BY SYLVIE LAPOINTE | June 16, 2025
Joanne Thompson

Oceans must take centre stage in nation-building projects

We are a maritime nation, and it is vital that oceans feature prominently in our nation-building in ways that benefit the entire country.

opinion | BY DEREK ARMITAGE, TREVOR SWERDFAGER | June 11, 2025
Joanne Thompson

Rebuilding Canada’s fisheries for climate and economic security

Oceana Canada’s analysis shows that by applying existing science-based law and policy, the number of healthy fish populations in Canada could rise from 35 per cent to nearly 80 per cent within a decade—delivering long-term stability and economic growth within our lifetime.

opinion | BY JOSH LAUGHREN | May 26, 2025
Joanne Thompson

B.C. suit says feds used consultations to justify ‘bad-faith’ Discovery Island salmon farming ban

Cermaq Canada is alleging former fisheries minister Joyce Murray disregarded the advice of her department and government scientists.

news | BY STUART BENSON | March 12, 2025

To protect nature, Canada must ratify the High Seas Treaty

We border three large oceans that are filled with countless species that do not recognize the 200-mile limit between national and international waters. If we want to preserve these places and animals for future generations of Canadians, a high seas treaty is essential.

opinion | BY SUSANNA FULLER | November 4, 2024

Feds’ plan for fish-farm transition no catch, say wild salmon, industry advocates

Despite opposing views on the ban, advocates for the industry and the First Nations who operate salmon farms agree the government’s draft transition plan is lacking.

news | BY STUART BENSON | October 16, 2024

Reconciliation that works for all in Canada’s fisheries

The principles of the Marshall decisions must be translated into into meaningful policies that respect Indigenous rights, the livelihoods of non-Indigenous fishers, social acceptability, and regional harmony.

opinion | BY GENNA CAREY | September 30, 2024
Diane Lebouthillier

Federal resource management decisions undermine collective power of community-based fisheries 

More must be done by our federal government to protect working Canadians, middle-class jobs, and maritime culture. 

opinion | BY COURTNEY GLODE | September 19, 2024

N.L. minister slams feds for ‘total chaos and poor decision-making’ on fisheries file

Gerry Byrne, the fisheries minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, says fisheries management is ‘all about politics’ for the federal government.

news | BY PETER MAZEREEUW | September 12, 2024
Diane Lebouthillie

Fish fight

Plus, Tom Clark testifies for the condo purchase probe.

feature | BY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA | September 12, 2024

Liberal MPs toe party line after breaking historical agreement on northern cod

Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal MPs have proven yet again that they have no interest in standing up for the sustainability of the province’s adjacent resources, enhancing its socio-economic opportunities, or safeguarding its future.

opinion | BY COURTNEY GLODE | August 21, 2024
Gudie Hutchings

Protecting wild salmon populations doesn’t require banning farms

We need to put salmon farm disease in perspective with how we respond to infectious disease in humans.

opinion | BY GARY D. MARTY | August 21, 2024

Feds miss self-imposed deadline for salmon farm transition plan, look like they’re ‘making it up as they go along,’ say industry stakeholders

Indigenous and industry stakeholders say they are still waiting to see the ‘guts’ of the government’s plan to transition to close-containment salmon farms, which it had committed to deliver by July 31.

news | BY STUART BENSON | August 1, 2024

Stars align for big changes to British Columbia’s commercial fishery

With two committee studies, an alliance of First Nations and harvester groups calling for owner-operator licensing in B.C., and now a provincial government commitment, conditions are perfect for policy reform on the Pacific Coast.

opinion | BY TREVOR RUSS, JAMES LAWSON | July 24, 2024

The killer whales are speaking, but is the minister of transport listening?

Now is the time for a transition plan towards watertight regulations that can reverse the possibility of Southern Resident killer whales going extinct this century. 

opinion | BY ANERI GARG, PETER ROSS | July 22, 2024
Pablo Rodriguez

Close the commercial cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador

By reopening the commercial fishery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has given access to industrial offshore trawlers, which have devastating impacts on the health of the resource. 

opinion | BY ABE SOLBERG | July 15, 2024

Cod fishery revival offers a resurgence of hope

Despite seeking a bigger allowable catch, The Atlantic Groundfish Council respects the minister’s decision to take a small, cautious step to a commercial fishery.

opinion | BY SYLVIE LAPOINTE | July 15, 2024