Amendments to Quebec Fishery Regulations

Summary#

These are the final Regulations Amending the Quebec Fishery Regulations, 1990 (Miscellaneous Program). They were registered on June 1, 2021 and published in the Canada Gazette on June 9, 2021. The changes mostly fix wording, correct species names and coordinates, and tidy up English/French differences so the rules are clearer.

What it does#

• Clarifies or changes several definitions, including how the regulation uses the terms angling, leader, and Area under the Quebec Fishery Regulations, 1990.
• Fixes wording differences between English and French versions so the two texts match more closely.
• Replaces vague species names with specific ones (for example, “smelt” becomes rainbow smelt).
• Splits or clarifies some species groups so it’s clear whether a rule refers to a group or a single species (for example, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, lake trout and splake trout, and sauger and walleye).
• Adds the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) to the list of named species in the schedules.
• Tightens or clarifies gear and hook rules (for example, lines with more than three hooks are restricted in some places, and limits on hooks are clarified as more than three points in certain salmon or fly-fishing areas).
• Corrects many place names, coordinates and river limits in the schedules so the regulated geographic areas are identified accurately.
• Adds a missing exception so the rules do not apply to fishing under an Aboriginal communal licence except for a small number of listed sections.
• Specifies that, in a listed part of the Betsiamites River, only an “Indian” as defined in the Indian Act may fish.
• Fixes typographical and translation errors throughout the regulations.
• These amendments came into force on the day of registration (the Regulations state they come into force on the day they are registered).

Who's affected#

• Recreational and sport fishers in Quebec are the most likely to notice small changes to species names, limits, and gear rules.
• Outfitters and people using outfitter waters may be affected by clarified possession rules for some species.
• People who fish under Aboriginal communal licences are explicitly covered by a clarified exception; the amendments also include a provision (Betsiamites River) that limits fishing in a specific area to people who meet the Indian Act definition.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (both consulted) are involved in interpreting and applying the corrected text.
• The government’s regulatory note says these are miscellaneous, technical corrections and are not expected to create new impacts for Indigenous groups, stakeholders or the general public. If that is unclear or contested by a local community, enforcement officers or fishers, that uncertainty remains.

Why it matters#

• Clearer wording and matching English/French text reduce the chance of mistakes by fishers and enforcement officers about what is allowed where.
• Replacing vague species names with precise ones (for example, rainbow smelt) helps people know which fish counts toward limits and which do not.
• Corrected coordinates and place names make it easier to know exactly which stretches of water a rule applies to. That matters if you plan a trip, run an outfitter business, or are enforcing the rules.
• The change restricting fishing in part of the Betsiamites River to those meeting the Indian Act definition is a concrete access rule that could matter to local users.
• Overall, these are technical fixes—not new policy—and the government says they are not intended to change fishing rights or add costs. If you fish in Quebec, check the updated regulations or ask local enforcement for how a specific rule now reads.