Fisheries Contraventions Added to Ticketing Regime

Summary#

These are the final Regulations Amending the Contraventions Regulations: SOR/2021-81, registered on April 19, 2021 and published in the Canada Gazette on April 28, 2021. They add many fisheries-related offences to the list that can be dealt with by ticket (instead of court), with fines generally between $100 and $750.

What it does#

• Adds about 400 existing fisheries offences to Schedule II.1 of the Contraventions Regulations, so those offences can be enforced by ticketing rather than only by court.
• Designates offences from the Fisheries Act and these regulations as contraventions:
  • Fishery (General) Regulations
  • Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985
  • Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Fishery Regulations
  • British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations, 1996
• Sets or confirms ticket fine amounts that range from $100 to $750, with some offences carrying an extra per-item amount. Examples:
  • Fisheries Act, s. 43.4(1): failing to follow terms of a permission or lease — $750.
  • Fishery (General) Regulations, s. 9: failing to sign a required document — $100.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Fishery Regulations, s. 13.1(1): catching more than a daily quota — $200 plus $100 per fish above the quota.
  • Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993, s. 63: fishing shellfish outside rules — $200 plus $50 per shellfish.
• The amendments came into force on the day they were registered — April 19, 2021.

Who's affected#

• Commercial and recreational fishers across Canada.
• Vessel owners and operators, and people who operate gear or traps.
• Fish processors, transporters, and license holders who must follow licence and documentation rules.
• Enforcement officers (who gain the ticketing tool).
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) led the changes and consulted stakeholders during development.

The government’s regulatory note says Indigenous peoples are not being impacted by these amendments. The notice also records that DFO contacted targeted Indigenous groups during consultation.

Why it matters#

• Ticketing makes enforcement of many minor fishery rules faster and simpler. People can pay a ticket instead of going to court.
• It aims to match the enforcement tool to the seriousness of the offence — minor violations can be handled without criminal prosecution or a criminal record.
• Using tickets can free court time and allow enforcement officers to spend more time on monitoring and patrols.
• Fines and some per-item penalties provide clearer, quicker consequences for over‑limits or equipment and licence breaches.
• The practical effect is stronger, more efficient enforcement of conservation and fisheries-management rules already on the books.