Question Period Note: Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) Fisheries

Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) Fisheries

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) issues food, social and ceremonial (FSC) fishing licences to Indigenous communities to implement the communal right.

FSC fishing varies by community at various times of the year, and is not always aligned with commercial seasons or areas.

FSC licences reflect regulations and management measures to promote conservation and a safe and orderly fishery.

FSC catches are not for sale. DFO takes enforcement action when required to address illegal fishing and buying of catches.

• Several court decisions have found that certain Indigenous groups have the right to fish for food, social and ceremonial (FSC) purposes – essentially, the right to fish to meet the internal needs of their communities.
• Following those decisions, DFO established a policy to provide FSC access to Indigenous groups across the country, this includes both Section 35 rights holders as well as other Indigenous organizations, such as native councils.
• FSC licences are developed following consultations with affected Indigenous groups and conditions of the licence are based on specific considerations present within each Indigenous community.
• Once a communal licence is issued to a community, individual Indigenous harvesters are designated by their communities to access the FSC fishery, as specified under the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations.
• The Department’s position has been that FSC catches cannot be sold, but they can take place outside the established commercial fishing seasons.
• DFO will continue to conduct monitoring, control and surveillance activities, with the objective of ensuring access to orderly, safe, and sustainable fisheries in support of the Department’s management objectives.
• In early February 2022, DFO initiated a consultation process with all First Nations in the Maritimes region about proposed changes to FSC lobster licences ahead of the 2022 season which starts June 1, 2022.
• The focus of this consultation process mainly is on identifying and supporting the FSC needs of the community, gear marking and other operational elements, and strengthening monitoring and catch reporting.

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