• Market diversification added to focus of renewed Atlantic Fisheries Fund

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-15 20:43:09.0
  Tags: [National, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Trade, Fisheries, Industry, Finance]

  The federal government and the Atlantic provincial governments are replenishing the Atlantic Fisheries Fund with more than $300 million over the next five years, funded 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially, in response to ongoing trade disputes and tariffs with the U.S. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced that market diversification has been added as a new funding pillar alongside innovation, infrastructure, and science partnerships to assist harvesters and processors such as Cooke Inc., the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, Scotia Harvest, and Icewater Seafoods in entering new international markets. Over the past nine years, the fund has previously distributed $370 million to more than 1,300 projects across Atlantic Canada.

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• Atlantic Fisheries Fund Renewed, Applications Being Accepted

  Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
  Date: 2026-10-15 17:40:13.0
  Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, National, Fisheries, Economy, Industry]

  The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada, and the provincial governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island have jointly renewed the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) with an investment of more than $300 million. The fund supports fishing and aquaculture projects across the Atlantic region to drive innovation, enhance market development, and ensure industry sustainability. The renewed program operates under four distinct pillars: market diversification, innovation, infrastructure, and science partnerships, with applications currently being accepted by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and partner jurisdictions. This funding launch follows a record-breaking performance in 2025 where Newfoundland and Labrador's fisheries and aquaculture sector generated $2.11 billion in market value.

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• Fisheries sector fund gets $300 million extension from Ottawa, Atlantic provinces

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-15 17:07:20.0
  Tags: [National, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Fisheries, Economy, Trade]

  Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced a five-year, $300 million extension of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund, aimed at supporting the fish and seafood sector across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The federal government is contributing 60 percent of the funding, with the four Atlantic provincial governments providing the remainder. Originally introduced in 2017, the renewed fund will invest in industry research, infrastructure, advertising, industry branding, and market research to help harvesters and growers expand global markets and improve resilience against international trade disruptions.

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• Fisheries minister travelling to China ahead of lobster, crab tariff deadline

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-15 14:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Trade, Fisheries, Agriculture, Economy]

  Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson is scheduled to travel to China at the end of October 2026 to negotiate market access and a potential extension for the suspension of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian lobster and crab. The tariff, which impacts approximately 80 per cent of Canadian seafood exports to China, was originally imposed in 2025 following Canadian duties on Chinese steel, aluminum, and electric vehicles, before being temporarily suspended in January under a trade arrangement. In 2024, Canada exported $1.3 billion in seafood to China, making it Canada's second-largest seafood export partner out of total national fish and seafood exports valued at $8.5 billion across 114 countries.

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• Long-awaited small craft harbour in Arctic Bay, Nunavut, expected to open in 2030

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-06 20:53:15.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Fisheries, Indigenous]

  Nunavut MP Lori Idlout announced a $77-million federal investment for the construction of a small craft harbour in Arctic Bay, Nunavut, as part of a $106-million commitment made by the federal government in 2024. The construction contract has been awarded to Iqaluit-based Pilitak Enterprises Ltd., featuring an Inuit benefits plan to support local training and employment. The infrastructure will include a breakwater, launch ramp, fixed wharf, floating wharves, and dredged harbour basin and entrance channel to support commercial fishing, marine transportation, tourism, and hunters. Construction is slated to continue through 2029, with the harbour expected to become fully operational for the 2030 open water season.

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• Statement from Premier Wakeham on France’s Pledged Intention to Launch Exploratory Snow Crab Fishery

  Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
  Date: 2026-09-29 19:25:34.0
  Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, National, Trade, Fisheries, Resources, Governance]

  Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Wakeham expressed disappointment and opposition regarding France's pledged intention to launch an exploratory snow crab fishery on the extension of Canada's continental shelf. Premier Wakeham discussed the issue with federal Minister Thompson, who confirmed that the Government of Canada does not support France's action. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Global Affairs Canada are collaborating to determine next steps and protect Canada's jurisdictional authority and fishing industry.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• Canadian seafood industry 'relieved' with removal of their products from retaliatory tariff list

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-08-27 13:22:04.0
  Tags: [National, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Trade, Economy, Fisheries]

  Finance Canada removed fish and seafood products, including lobster and crab, from its retaliatory tariff list just a day after initially imposing counter-measures on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods. The initial list would have subjected U.S. seafood imports to a 25 per cent tariff, which industry groups like the Lobster Processors Association and the New Brunswick Crab Processors Association warned would devastate integrated cross-border processing operations. To maintain a dollar-for-dollar and rate-for-rate response, the Ministry of Finance added copper wire, charcoal, plaster sheets, and tiles to the tariff list at a 50 per cent rate, taking effect on September 8.

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