LegislationThe operation of the Department is
governed by the following Acts:
Fisheries Act
(Schedule C of the Executive Council)
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- Provides for Ministerial authority to collect
and effectively utilize information from fishing enterprises and
businesses.
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Fish Inspection Act
and Regulations
Enables the Department
to:
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- Conduct fish product inspections,
- Regulate buying, processing and licensing
activities,
- Market fish products,
- Set and enforce quality standards for the
marketing of fish and fish products.
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Fish Processing Licensing Board
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Aquaculture Act
and Regulations
Enables the Department to:
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- Impose a licensing and enforcement regime based
on developmental and commercial aquaculture,
- Confer property rights on a lessee to an area
of sea bottom and water column,
- Protect fish health and the environment,
- Set aquaculture equipment,
- Establish access and egress by the public
around or through aquaculture sites,
- And resolve conflicts between resource users.
Other less direct legislation relating to the
Department’s activities includes:
Fisheries Loan Act
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- This legislation has been retained to bring
closure or settlement to past accounts and activities of the former
Fisheries Loan Board.
- The Act set out administrative guidelines for:
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The payment of
bounties on the construction of fishing vessels,
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The financing
of fishing vessels to qualifying fish harvesters, and
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The
construction and equipment standards of vessels receiving
assistance.
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Professional Fish Harvesters Act
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- This legislation allowed for the establishment
of the Professional
Fish Harvesters Certification Board (which operates at
arms-length from government).
- The Board’s main responsibilities include:
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The promotion of the interests of fish
harvesters as a professional group;
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Defining the standards for professionalization;
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Advising governments on fisheries policies;
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Maintaining a fish harvester registration
system;
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Issuing certificates of accreditation;
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Developing and enforcing a Code of Ethics; and
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Providing an appeals procedure.
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Fisheries
Restructuring Act
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- This Act ratified and confirmed an agreement of
September 1983, between the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland
and Labrador, concerning restructuring of the Newfoundland and
Labrador fishery.
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Fishery
Products International Limited Act
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- Allows for the formation of Fishery Products
International Limited.
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Fishing
Industry Collective Bargaining Act
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- The Fishing Industry Collective
Bargaining Act outlines the legistation governing collective
bargaining between harvesters and processors.
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