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.

Eligible Activities

Importing or transporting of fish.

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;
• 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 the 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 these 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.

Quebec Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Director
Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Station 14-E-241
Centennial Towers
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E6
Telephone: 613-998-5495
Fax: 613-990-2811
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-941-6517
E-mail: matteB@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).