Soak Time Rules Moved to Licences

Summary#

These are proposed changes from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that would remove fixed “soak time” limits from the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Fishery Regulations. Instead, soak times would be set case-by-case through licence conditions under the Fishery (General) Regulations. This proposal was published on July 4, 2026 and interested people have 30 days to comment.

What it does#

• Repeals the specific soak-time rules in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Fishery Regulations.
• Moves the authority to set soak times so they are written into individual fishing licence conditions under the Fishery (General) Regulations, allowing different limits for different fisheries or fleets.
• Keeps enforcement tools in place (patrols, inspections, logbooks, vessel data) but changes how the soak-time requirement is written and fined.

Who's affected#

• Fish harvesters who use fixed (stationary) gear such as traps, pots, gillnets and longlines.
• Commercial licence holders and Indigenous licence holders across the Atlantic provinces and Nunavut coastal/offshore fisheries.
• Environmental groups and others concerned about marine animal entanglement or gear loss.
• the Department of Fisheries and Oceans staff who set and enforce licence conditions.

What the consultation found (from the department):

• 133 responses to a survey, with 119 supporting the change and 12 expressing concerns.
• Indigenous respondents included 11 survey replies and one consultation body; feedback reported in favour of the change.

Why it matters#

• Safety: DFO says licence-based soak times let fishers avoid unsafe trips caused by rigid rules (current limits include 72 consecutive hours in some rules and three days in others).
• Flexibility: Managers could tailor soak times for different fisheries, fleets, or seasons based on science and operations. This can help reduce losses and better protect animals if limits are chosen carefully.
• Enforcement and fines: Soak times would be enforced as licence conditions. Current set fines for the regulatory rules include $500 and $250 amounts; failing a licence condition can carry a $750 set fine. That change in how the rule is written could affect how offences are charged.
• Concerns remain: some inshore harvesters and environmental groups worry that longer or inconsistent soak times could increase bycatch, entanglement, or make enforcement harder. The department says it will try to keep consistent limits where needed and produce guidance for licence conditions.

Note: These are proposed amendments, not final law. The proposed regulations indicate they would come into force when registered, but no registration date is given.