Fisheries Act Regulations Authorize Deposits Of Deleterious Substances Into Water Frequented By Fish

Draft regulations released on February 15, 2014 create a policy framework enabling the federal government to make regulations exempting certain activities from the general Fisheries Act prohibition against polluting water frequented by fish. These regulations will bring certainty to some industries whose discharges are regulated provincially and authorized by Provincial permit yet do not comply with the broad Fisheries Act prohibition. The 30-day comment period for the draft ends on March 17, 2014.

The draft Regulations Establishing Conditions for Making Regulations under Subsection 36(5.2) of the Fisheries Act permit future regulations to be made in three circumstances:

1. to manage aquaculture, aquatic pests and aquatic invasive species