Protecting Fish

Act: Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-14
Regulation: Fish Health Protection Regulations, C.R.C.

To Whom Does This Apply?

Anyone who imports or transports certain types of fish (listed below) into Canada or from province to province needs to apply for an import permit.

Summary

The Fisheries Act governs the management of fisheries resources and habitats and sets out the rules and penalties for day-to-day conservation and management.

The Fish Health Protection Regulations govern the transportation of certain kinds of fish (of the salmonid family) into Canada or between provinces. The following fish are affected:

• Pacific salmon
• Danube salmon and taimens
• Atlantic salmon
• trout
• char
• grayling
• lenok
• inconnus
• whitefish (coregonus spp)
• whitefish (prosopium spp)
• ayu

Those affected must obtain an import permit before shipping the fish unless the fish is cultured fish (fish bred by humans) which has been eviscerated (had the entrails removed). The aim of these regulations is to prevent the transmission of viral and bacterial diseases and parasites of concern from sick fish to healthy fish. All fish diseases listed under the Regulations are not dangerous for humans.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

National Contact(s):
Director
Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Centennial Towers
200 Kent Street
Station 14-E-241
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E6
Telephone: 613-993-2361
Fax: 613-990-2811
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-941-6517
E-mail: ra-ar@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/home-accueil_e.htm
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday (Eastern Time).