News – DFO Announces FFHPP Regulatory and Program Changes
Regulatory and program changes to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) have been implemented. These changes were made in response to actions identified in the 2025 Red Tape Review Progress Report to support greater efficiency in project reviews while continuing to uphold environmental standards and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The following information has been provided to support Indigenous Peoples, proponents, stakeholders and other partners in better understanding the regulatory and program changes.
Authorizations Regulations
The amended Authorizations Concerning Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Regulations (the Regulations) are in force on October 15, 2026.
The Regulations set out the regulatory requirements to apply for an authorization under the Fisheries Act for works, undertakings or activities that may result in harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat. Amendments to the Regulations are focused on better aligning application information requirements with project risks. Key changes include:
- Simplified information requirements for all applications for authorization
- Streamlined project review when a DFO Technical Standard is followed
- Enabling the Minister to determine offsetting requirements following a project risk assessment
- Exempting municipal and Indigenous governments from financial guarantee requirements
- Strengthened requirements for early engagement of Indigenous groups by project proponents, aligned with regulatory requirements under the Impact Assessment Act
Technical standards
DFO’s first interim technical standard for Installation or Replacement of Watercourse Crossings is available as of October 15, 2026. A technical standard is a new tool which establishes fish-friendly design techniques and incorporates avoidance and mitigation measures to reduce the risk to fish and fish habitat. When proponents follow a technical standard in their application for authorization, the process will be streamlined with less information required.
The watercourse crossing technical standard is available for use, but is considered interim. We encourage you to provide input and feedback on how it can be improved before it is finalized. You can provide comments to DFO by via the FFHPP inbox until January 29, 2027. Indigenous groups can contact the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program (IHPP) if they are interested in applying for IHPP funding to support their review of the standard.
Additional interim DFO technical standards will be released over the coming months, and will also be open for comments and feedback. DFO will continue to develop and release new tools, guidance and instruments to streamline regulatory processes including additional mitigation procedures, codes of practice and equivalent industry practices. We will continue to notify you and seek your input.
Website and guidance
The Projects Near Water website has been updated to provide a more user-friendly experience that will lead you easily through the information, guidance and other resources that you may be looking for. We have also updated the applicant’s guide to support proponents in understanding what information is required when they apply for a Fisheries Act authorization.
Project Submission Tool
The Project Submission Tool (PST) has been expanded and can now be used to submit an application for a Fisheries Act authorization for your project in or near water. The PST initially launched in December 2025 to enable online notifications when using codes of practice, and it can also be used to notify DFO when following the Maintenance and Repair of Ontario Municipal Drains Regulation.
By using the PST:
- Applicants can notify or apply to DFO directly from their computer, tablet, or phone
- Information can be saved and completed later
- Applicants can benefit from a user-friendly interface with improved accessibility
- Only relevant information needs to be submitted
The PST can be accessed on the Projects Near Water website.
