57 Major Fish Stocks Prescribed

Summary#

The federal government has updated the Fishery (General) Regulations by replacing Schedule IX to list 57 major fish stocks. This change brings those stocks under the Fish Stocks rules in the Fisheries Act and took effect when the regulations were registered on June 22, 2026.

What it does#

• Replaces Schedule IX of the Fishery (General) Regulations to add 57 major fish stocks and reorder the list alphabetically.
• Fixes the geographic descriptions for 3 already‑listed stocks to correct errors and improve consistency.
• Leaves out several stocks that were in earlier proposals (including some Northern shrimp and Snow crab stocks) so those will be considered later under different stock unit groupings or after more review.
• Makes the added stocks subject to the Fish Stocks provisions of the Fisheries Act, which include requirements to keep stocks above their limit reference point (LRP) or to develop rebuilding plans if they fall to or below the LRP.

Who's affected#

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) — now has a legal duty to manage the newly listed stocks under the Fish Stocks rules.
• Fish harvesters, fishing communities and seafood businesses that depend on the listed stocks — because stock management or rebuilding measures could affect access or catch limits over time.
• Indigenous organizations and modern treaty partners, including the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board, where some stocks overlap treaty areas — DFO engaged with them during development.
• Conservation groups and the public interested in sustainable fisheries and rebuilding depleted stocks.

Why it matters#

• The change creates a legal requirement to manage the listed stocks under the Fish Stocks rules of the Fisheries Act rather than relying only on policy. That makes obligations clearer and time‑bound.
• Most of the listed stocks are already managed under DFO’s precautionary approach, but the new regulation makes the requirement to produce rebuilding plans more explicit and sets the clock for timelines. Of the 57 stocks, 48 are above their LRP, 8 are at or below their LRP, and 1 currently lacks an LRP.
• For stocks at or below their LRP, DFO must develop a rebuilding plan within 24 months after the regulation comes into force (with a possible extension to 36 months). This may speed up planning compared with past practice.
• In practical terms, fishers and communities may see management measures or rebuilding actions sooner for the affected stocks, but the government says most management will match existing policy and there are no immediate new fishing rules from this listing alone.