To maintain their populations, fish need healthy habitats where they can feed, spawn and rest. It is important to protect these habitats, since they allow species to perpetuate themselves and produce sufficient offspring to sustain commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries.

In Quebec, one of the key activities of the Fish Habitat Management Program consists in enforcing the provisions of the Fisheries Act pertaining to fish habitat. This Act states that no person shall carry on any work or undertaking that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat./habitat/img/spacer.gif

Furthermore, in its Fish Habitat Management Policy, the Department recognizes that other sectors of the economy have a legitimate need to use water resources. It therefore encourages the adoption of an integrated management approach designed to ensure the protection and conservation of fish habitat, while permitting the use of water resources for other purposes.

Following the enactment of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act in 1995, the Program's mandate was expanded to include the environmental assessment of projects that trigger decision making under certain sections of the Fisheries Act.

For example, when a proponent wants to carry out a project that impinges on fish habitat, steps must be taken to ensure that there will be no adverse effects on the habitat. If the project is likely to affect fish habitat, it must be referred to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which will conduct an assessment in accordance with current regulations. If the project entails impacts that cannot be avoided, the proponent must obtain an authorization to modify fish habitat from the Department and meet all requirements before beginning work.