Canada increasing vessel length limit for the less than 40’ Inshore Sub-Fleets in Newfoundland and Labrador

Ottawa  – Canada’s East Coast inshore fisheries are the backbone of coastal communities, driving rural, local, regional and national economies. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to supporting these harvesters who work hard to provide prosperity for their communities.

Today, Newfoundland and Labrador Member of Parliament, Ken McDonald, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Joyce Murray, announced that Fisheries and Oceans Canada will increase existing vessel length limits for Newfoundland and Labrador’s inshore fishing boats to provide more consistency in all Atlantic Canada regions. Specifically, the existing vessel length requirement for inshore sub-fleets, currently restricted to the less than 39’11” length in overall measurement, will increase to 49’11”.

This announcement will bring greater alignment to vessel length limits across Atlantic Canada, providing harvesters with additional flexibility when choosing a vessel. Specifically, it will allow harvesters to choose the vessel that best suits their activities, and will help mitigate potentially dangerous modifications. These changes will come into effect for the 2023 fishing season.

In addition, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will launch engagements this fall with stakeholders, including licence holders, First Nations, industry associations and other government departments across Atlantic Canada and Quebec, to gather feedback on the Department’s inshore vessel policies, including all registration rules currently in place across Atlantic Canada and Quebec . These engagements will begin after the fishing seasons end in each region. The Department will be contacting harvesters with further details on plans for these engagements.