Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) Codes of Practice specify procedures, practices or standards for avoiding the death of fish or the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat. This is in relation to works, undertakings and activities during various phases of their life cycle, such as construction, operation, maintenance or decommissioning. Read more
Sander Oken 1817 (Percidae) is the Valid Generic Name for Walleye, Sauger, and European Pikeperches: A Response to Bruner (2021)
AUTHORS: Christopher Scharpf, The ETYFish Project, 4102 Westview Road, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. chris@etyfish.org; Ronald Fricke, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Germany. ronald.fricke@smns-bw.de
CITATION: Scharpf C. and R. Fricke. 2021. Sander Oken 1817 (Percidae) is the Valid Generic Name for Walleye, Sauger, and European Pikeperches: A Response to Bruner (2021). Fisheries 47(4)151:153 https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10686 Read more
After a very successful Wave One Engagement, DFO’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) is ready to undertake the next wave of engagement. FFHPP’s Wave Two Engagement is seeking input to continue modernizing and/or developing policies, frameworks, instruments, and guidance to further implement the fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act.
The FFHPP Engagement Platform will house all engagement activities, provide participants with information and updates, and ensure all input and feedback will be directed to the FFHPP team.
Please visit the FFHPP Engagement Platform to register to participate in platform activities, and find new opportunities to participate, share, collaborate, and learn.
The Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health is the federal-provincial agreement that supports the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. The Agreement outlines how the governments of Canada and Ontario will cooperate and coordinate their efforts to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. It is the means by which Canadian federal departments interact with the Ontario provincial ministries to help meet Canada’s obligations under the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).
On May 27, 2021, the governments of Canada and Ontario renewed their commitment to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes by signing the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA), 2021. Read more
Registration Now Open for Canada Water Agency National and Regional Freshwater Policy Forums
The Government of Canada is creating a new Canada Water Agency to work together with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, local authorities, scientists and others to find the best ways to keep our water safe, clean and well-managed. In December 2020, the Canada Water Agency discussion paper, Toward the Creation of a Canada Water Agency, was released. It presents key issues for consideration in the Government of Canada’s approach to creating a Canada Water Agency.
Over the coming months DFO’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program will be seeking input from Indigenous Peoples, governments and regulators, the regulated community and conservation groups to modernize or develop new policies, frameworks, instruments and guidance to further implement the fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the modernized Fisheries Act.
Please visit the FFHPP engagement platform frequently for opportunities to participate, share, and learn.
Province releases sustainable bait management strategy
A decision was made on June 17, 2020 to proceed with Ontario’s Sustainable Bait Management Strategy. Following a 45-day comment period, as well as feedback received from previous engagement throughout the Bait Policy Review process, revisions were made to the draft strategy to create a revised Sustainable Bait Management Strategy.
This policy includes a variety of elements related to bait management in Ontario, including the movement of bait, personal harvest, permitted bait species, the use of bait in Brook Trout lakes, and aspects related to commercial bait operations.
The proposal will be implemented through amendments to the Ontario Fishery Regulations under the federal Fisheries Act, and Ontario Regulation 664/98 (Fish Licensing) under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
Consultation: Ontario Conservation Authorities
The Province is reviewing the Conservation Authorities Act to define the core mandate of conservation authorities and their programs and services. Feedback is requested to help improve the overall governance, oversight and accountability of conservation authorities to protect and preserve Ontario’s natural spaces.
See https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-ontario-conservation-authorities for more information.
Most minnows native to North America are now considered family Leuciscidae (minnows). Family Cyprinidae (carps) includes Common Carp and Goldfish. Grass Carp, Silver Carp, Bighead Carp and Black Carp are family Xenocyprinidae (East Asian minnows). Recent phylogenetic analyses have resulted in several sub-families being recognized as full families. See Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-0958-3), Phylogenetic classification of extant genera of fishes of the order Cypriniformes (https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4476.1.4), and Phylogenetic relationships and classification of the Holarctic family Leuciscidae (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.06.026).
Province releases draft bait management strategy
“Our government is committed to protecting Ontario’s vibrant fisheries and the industries that rely on them by reducing the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species and fish diseases,” Minister Yakabuski said. “We are aiming for a policy that protects our lakes and rivers while minimizing the impact on anglers and increasing business certainty for the commercial industry that relies on bait.” Read more
While you're shopping the AFS bookstore sale, check out the search for the next TAFS editor-in-chief! If you're a scientist with a broad perspective on fisheries with ideas about the future of AFS journals, consider applying. See full details at https://bit.ly/3BAnqrA
