Canada’s aquatic ecosystems are important shared resources that help sustain life and provide tremendous economic, social, cultural, and ecological benefits. Indigenous peoples have been fishing for thousands of years in Canada's oceans, along its coasts, in lakes, and in rivers. Today, fish and fish habitat face many threats. These include:

• habitat modification and degradation,
• aquatic invasive species,
• overexploitation of fish,
• pollution,
• climate change.

To manage the impacts to fish and fish habitat, the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection provisions of the Fisheries Act is a key federal statute for:

• regulating fisheries resources,
• conserving and protecting fish and fish habitat
• regulating economic development in and around Canadian waters by managing impacts to fish and fish habitat.

The Fish and Fish Habitat Provisions of the Fisheries Act is administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO’s) Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program. For more information see (https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/index-eng.html).

Topics for engagement include:

• Codes of Practice
• Habitat Offsetting and Banking Policies
• Prescribed Works and Waters Regulation
• Cumulative Effects
• Fisheries Act Registry
• Engagement Framework

This website will be a main source of information for the upcoming engagement activities. Here you will find:

• Supporting and background documents needed to participate, including:
  • Discussion papers
  • Fact Sheets
  • Presentations
• Instructions for participation,
• Opportunities to provide your feedback
• Frequently asked questions about all discussion topics, and
• At the conclusion of the different engagement activities, Engagement Summaries of what we heard will be posted.

You can learn more about how the engagement platform operates here.

There is information on all Products available to all Canadians through the public side of the platform. The public may also provide comments on any Product or aspect of the site at any time through our feedback tool.

This platform also houses specific activities that are designed for registered users who are targeted Indigenous, partner and stakeholder organizations that work with DFO on a regular basis and may be directly affected by the proposed products. These activities are technical in nature and can only be undertaken by those who have been registered by DFO. If you are not registered, and you work with FFHPP on a regular basis please send us an email.

Please come back to the engagement platform frequently for opportunities to participate, share, and learn.