Habitat 2.0: A new approach to Canada's Fisheries Act

In fall 2016, the federal government began a review of changes to the Fisheries Act, with the aim of “restoring lost protections” and “incorporating modern safeguards” into the Act. As part of the federal review, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) held a series of hearings and accepted input from organizations and individuals on the issue.

This brief – submitted to the Committee by West Coast Environmental Law Association and the Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW) – establishes the need for national legal fish habitat protection standards, addresses the current state of the law, and sets out recommendations for a modern Fisheries Act.