Technical Amendments to Fisheries Regulations

Summary#

These are the final Regulations Amending Certain Department of Fisheries and Oceans Regulations (Miscellaneous Program) (SOR/2022-196). They make a large number of small, technical fixes across several fisheries rules — clarifying wording, fixing French/English differences, updating some definitions and lists — and came into force on September 27, 2022.

What it does#

• Fixes wording, grammar, and typographical errors in several regulations to make them clearer.
• Corrects discrepancies between the English and French versions of the rules.
• Adds or updates definitions (for example, terms like trap, dip net and licensed facility are clarified).
• Updates lists of species, gear types, fishing areas, and close times in schedules so names and entries match current usage.
• Adjusts how some licence fees and fee formulas are described in schedules (technical wording changes).
• Removes or repeals obsolete or spent regulatory provisions that no longer apply.
• Changes are made across several instruments, notably the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993, the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, the Saskatchewan Fishery Regulations, 1995, and the Coastal Fisheries Protection Regulations.

Who's affected#

• Commercial fishers, licence holders and vessel owners who have to follow the detailed rules and schedules in these regulations.
• Fish processing operators and people who run or use a licensed facility in British Columbia.
• Indigenous fishers and Indigenous organizations named in the regulations (for example, the Northern Native Fishing Corporation is mentioned in relation to licence fee options).
• Fisheries managers and inspectors at Department of Fisheries and Oceans who apply and enforce the rules.
• It is unclear whether any single change will significantly affect a particular group; most changes are technical or clarifying.

Why it matters#

• Clearer wording and matching English/French texts reduce confusion about what is allowed or required. That can make it easier for fishers to comply and for regulators to enforce the rules consistently.
• Updating species names, gear definitions and schedules helps ensure the regulations reflect current fishing practices and terminology.
• Repealing obsolete provisions removes outdated requirements that could cause unnecessary administrative work.
• According to the government’s analysis, these are administrative and corrective changes that do not increase costs for businesses and are not expected to affect small businesses.