Ottawa, Ontario - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recognizes that fisheries, oceans, aquatic habitat and marine waterways are of great social, cultural, spiritual and economic importance to many Indigenous peoples. Working with Indigenous peoples as they increase their capacity to monitor fisheries is key to providing dependable, timely, and accessible information for sustainable fisheries management.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced the launch of the $5-million Indigenous Fisheries Monitoring Fund. This funding supports Indigenous groups as they increase fisheries monitoring and catch reporting activities, which is crucial for maintaining sustainable fisheries. Fishery monitoring provides accurate information on fishing activities, such as how many fish are caught from each stock, and how many bycatch species are caught during a fishery.
Eligible Indigenous groups can now submit their written proposal to DFO. Information on eligibility, how to apply and an application form can be found on DFO's Indigenous Fisheries Monitoring Fund webpage. The fund is open to applications until December 31, 2028.
This funding will promote the sharing of best practices and fishery monitoring data, to better inform decision-making for sustainable fisheries and demonstrate collaborative management of federally regulated fish stocks and populations across Canada.
