• Diana Fox Carney appointed as Canada's ocean envoy, chair of Our Ocean Conference

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-16 21:20:08.0
  Tags: [National, Nova Scotia, Environment, Fisheries, Governance]

  Diana Fox Carney has been appointed as Canada's ocean envoy and chair of the 12th annual Our Ocean Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Halifax in 2027. In her unpaid role, announced by Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson, Fox Carney will coordinate efforts connecting ocean conservation, climate action, Indigenous leadership, economic resilience, and maritime security. The appointment supports Ottawa's target to protect 30 per cent of Canada's marine and coastal areas by 2030.

  Read Original

• North Atlantic right whale population appears to be stabilizing after years of decline: DFO

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-03 14:18:45.0
  Tags: [National, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Environment, Fisheries]

  Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) reported that the North Atlantic right whale population has stabilized at approximately 384 whales, including 70 breeding females, following a strong calving year that produced 23 calves. Officials emphasized that strict conservation measures—such as temporary 15-day fishing area closures spanning upwards of 2,000 square kilometres upon a whale detection in the Gulf of St. Lawrence—remain essential to protect the species from threats like gear entanglement. DFO continues to deploy acoustic technology and marine surveillance programs, noting that maintaining sustainable seafood certifications and preventing mortalities requires ongoing collaboration with fish harvesters.

  Read Original

• Ontario and Canada Celebrate Successful Restoration of Nipigon Bay

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
  Date: 2026-08-28 19:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Ontario, Environment, Climate, Indigenous, Fisheries]

  The Governments of Ontario and Canada have officially removed Nipigon Bay from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern after nearly 40 years of cleanup work under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health. The restoration efforts—which included upgraded wastewater treatment in the Township of Nipigon and Township of Red Rock, stricter pulp and paper industry regulations, and aquatic habitat rehabilitation—spanned a nearly 50,000-acre area including the lower Nipigon River. Since the late 1980s, the Government of Ontario has invested nearly $25.5 million (including over $17 million since 2018), while the federal government has contributed more than $12 million since 2012 alongside total partner investments of $68 million. The milestone project was achieved through collaborative efforts involving local partners and First Nations, including the Red Rock Indian Band, Lakehead University, and local community groups.

  Read Original

• Protecting Chinook salmon in Bessette Creek with temporary order

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-08-28 19:00:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, Environment, Water, Agriculture, Fisheries]

  Effective August 28, 2026, the Government of British Columbia issued a fish population protection order under the Water Sustainability Act for the Bessette Creek watershed in the Thompson Okanagan region due to persistent severe drought and record-low streamflows. The temporary order halts water use for 131 surface-water and groundwater licence holders and transitioning users engaged in forage crop irrigation, crop harvesting, processing ore, and other water-intensive industrial activities to protect endangered Chinook salmon. The Province offers support through the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program—which has invested $120 million since 2023 across more than 700 producer projects—alongside the $285.5-million B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.

  Read Original