Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aligns its Fisheries Licensing Policy with Quebec to Recognize the Status of Professional Fisher

QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - July 14, 2016) - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently modified the eligibility criteria for acquiring an inshore fishery enterprise in Quebec. As of April 1, 2016, DFO requires a fisher or assistant fisher certificate issued by the Bureau d'accréditation des pêcheurs et des aides-pêcheurs du Québec (BAPAP) in order to manage a commercial fishery enterprise. This change harmonizes the two levels of government, while also recognizing the importance of professional commercial fishers in Quebec.

Although this Policy change has been in effect since April 2016, fishers have until June 2017 to comply. To facilitate the transition, fishers and assistant fishers who wish to qualify as a fishery enterprise by June 2017 have the option of meeting either the old or the new eligibility criteria.

For more information on how to obtain fisher and assistant fisher certification, please contact the BAPAP.

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