Final Fisheries Act Codes for Work Near Water

Summary#

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says that, as of January 24, 2026, four codes of practice and one technical standard under the Fisheries Act are considered final. The documents cover common types of work near water and are posted on the Projects near water website. The notice is signed by Nicole Bouchard.

What it does#

• Declares the following codes of practice final:
  • Boathouses, docks and moorings: Construction, maintenance and repair
  • Bridges: Maintenance and repair
  • In-water structures: Maintenance and repair
  • Intermittent drains: Maintenance
• Declares the following standard final:
  • In-water site isolation
• Says the final documents are available on the Projects near water website and ties their finalization to the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention rules in section 34.2 of the Fisheries Act.

Who's affected#

• People and businesses that build, repair or maintain:
  • boathouses, docks and moorings
  • bridges that touch or cross water
  • in-water structures (piers, pilings, etc.)
  • intermittent drains that flow into fish habitat
• Municipalities, contractors, engineers and utility owners who work near water.
• Fisheries and environmental regulators who use these codes for guidance.
• If it’s unclear whether a specific activity is covered, affected parties should consult the final documents on the Projects near water website.

Why it matters#

• These codes and the standard describe expected practices to reduce harm to fish and fish habitat during construction and maintenance.
• They give clearer guidance to people doing work near water. That can affect how projects are planned, permitted and carried out.
• For communities and contractors, following the codes can help avoid damage, regulatory problems, and delays.