Wave 2 Engagement

Thank you for your participation and feedback through the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program’s (FFHPP) engagement on the Offsetting Policy and Cumulative Effects Position Statement. We are pleased to announce that the Policy for Applying Measures to Offset Harmful Impacts to Fish and Fish Habitat and the Position Statement on the Consideration of Cumulative Effects in Support of Decision Making on Fisheries Act Authorizations Concerning Fish and Fish Habitat Protection are now available on DFO’s Projects Near Water website. These documents contribute to FFHPP's efforts to conserve, protect and restore fish and fish habitat for future generations in a way that respects Indigenous rights and supports sustainable development. Both documents provide additional clarity for partners and project proponents.

The Offsetting Policy provides direction on undertaking effective measures to offset death of fish and the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat, consistent with the fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act. A summary of key changes between the 2025 and the 2019 versions of the Offsetting Policy is also available at Talk Fish Habitat, along with FAQs. and. You will also find our 3-page tip sheet Project planning: What is offsetting and how to prepare an offsetting plan on Projects Near Water. We will be issuing further guidance to support the Offsetting Policy later in 2025, specifically the guidelines for establishing and managing fish habitat banks, guidelines for the development of an offsetting plan, and policy guidance related to the program’s Risk Management Framework and when avoidance, mitigation and offsetting measures are applied.

The Cumulative Effects Position Statement is designed to provide further clarity on the department’s approach to the application of the relevant fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act during the project authorization decision-making process. It supports decision makers as they consider the cumulative effects of a project, in combination with all other relevant stressors on fish and fish habitat. FAQs on the Position Statement are also available at Talk Fish Habitat.

These documents would not have been possible without your engagement and input. All comments received were considered in the finalization of the Offsetting Policy and Cumulative Effects Position Statement, and will continue to be considered as we develop guidance for implementation and other program tools.

As we continue to implement the Fisheries Act, we look forward to continued collaboration and coordination.

Thank you for participating in the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program’s (FFHPP) Wave 2 engagement. We greatly appreciate the feedback provided during our engagement sessions, feedback submitted through the Talk Fish Habitat Platform, and written feedback sent to the Program. I am pleased to announce the Wave 2 What We Heard Report has been published on the Talk Fish Habitat platform.

The Wave 2 What We Heard Report provides a summary of FFHPP’s Wave 2 engagement process, the key themes highlighted in the feedback received from Indigenous Peoples, partners, and multi-interest holders as well as a summary of how feedback was considered for each engagement topic.

The topics discussed in the Wave 2 What We Heard Report are the:

• Draft Position Statement on the Consideration of Cumulative Effects on Fish and Fish Habitat in Support of Decision-Making under the Fisheries Act;
• Proposed Prescribed Works and Water Regulations;
• Draft Position Statement on the Management of Death of Fish (other than fishing), under the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act;
• Draft Position Statement on the Management of Existing Facilities and Structures under the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act;
• Draft Framework for Identifying, Establishing and Managing Ecologically Significant Areas;
• Draft Framework for Aquatic Species at Risk Conservation; and,
• Framework to Identify Fish Habitat Restoration Priorities.

Thank you again for your continued interest in the FFHPP’s multi-year engagement plan.

Thank you for your participation and feedback through the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program’s Wave 2 engagement sessions on the position statements for the Management of Death of Fish and Existing Facilities and Structures. We received many insightful comments that helped strengthen these statements. The Department took into consideration all of the feedback received during Wave 2 engagement, and subsequently made changes to further enhance their clarity.

We are pleased to announce that, following engagement, finalized position statements are now available on the Projects near water website.

The position statements are designed to provide further clarity on the Department’s approach with respect to the application of the fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act and relevant provisions of the Species at Risk Act as they relate to the death of fish by means other than fishing, and the management of existing facilities and structures.

These statements interpret relevant provisions of the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act, including when and to whom provisions apply, and provide an outline of the responsibilities of both owner/operators (existing facilities) and of the Department.

As we move toward the continued implementation of the modernized Fisheries Act (including requirements articulated in the position statements), we look forward to continued collaboration and coordination with your organizations.

Thank you for your participation and feedback through DFO’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program’s (FFHPP) Wave 2 engagement. We are pleased to announce we have published the Framework for Identifying, Establishing and Managing Ecologically Significant Areas (ESAs).

The Framework can be found online on DFO Waves.

The ESA provisions of the Fisheries Act (Section 35.2) aim to protect sensitive, highly productive, rare or unique fish habitat. The Framework includes:

• A detailed description of ESAs and their ecological criteria;
• How to determine Conservation and Protection Objectives;
• A step-by-step approach for ESA implementation;
• Guiding principles for ESA implementation; and,
• Comparison of ESAs to other conservation tools.

The Framework reflects input from Indigenous Peoples, partners, and stakeholders received from winter 2022 to winter 2023.

DFO Regions will use the Framework to guide ESA implementation. We intend for ESAs to be as collaborative as possible, including early engagement with Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories, and other interested stakeholders.

DFO Regions are currently advancing ESA case studies as we work toward establishing ESAs in Canada.

Thank you again for your continued interest in FFHPP’s multi-year engagement plan.

Thank you for your participation and feedback through DFO’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) Wave 2 engagement. We are excited to announce the Framework to Identify Fish Habitat Restoration Priorities has been released.

The Framework can be found online.

FFHPP is undertaking an initiative to identify fish habitat priorities with the aim to improve marine and freshwater restoration coordination, and to inform resource management decisions. Habitat restoration can help reverse habitat loss and degradation.

The Framework includes an approach to identify fish habitat restoration priorities, principles for successful and effective restoration, and considerations to determine restoration priorities. The Framework reflects input from Indigenous peoples, partners, and stakeholders received over the summer of 2022.

The Framework will be used to inform and guide the development of regional fish habitat restoration priorities. Regional fish habitat restoration priorities aim to identify important species, areas and ecosystem functions in DFO Regions (or scoped sub-regions), and set out restoration goals. DFO Regions are undertaking engagement to develop restoration priorities. The work is expected to be completed in 2024.

Thanks again for your continued interest in FFHPP’s multi-year engagement plan.