TELL THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP OVERFISHING AND REBUILD WILD FISH

Just over one-third of Canada’s managed wild marine fish populations, called stocks, are considered healthy. The rest are critically depleted, cautious, or lack a health status, according to Oceana Canada’s ninth annual Fishery Audit.

Change is possible, and a decade of fisheries advocacy by Oceana Canada and its supporters has started to turn the tide.

Canada now has rebuilding plans to support the recovery of 34% of critically depleted stocks, along with better fisheries monitoring and increased climate preparedness. But implementation remains slow, and fisheries decisions are inconsistent. Fisheries management must prioritize healthy oceans, diverse fish populations, and the long-term viability of fisheries.

Rebuilding fish is not just environmental policy — it is smart fiscal policy, climate strategy, and nation-building. Healthy fish populations are natural infrastructure: they power coastal economies, deliver low-carbon protein, strengthen food security, support reconciliation, and reinforce Canada’s reputation for evidence-based, sustainable fisheries governance.

Canadians want nature-based solutions and feel a strong connection to protecting the natural world. Healthy oceans and thriving fisheries are central to Canada’s story.

Canada has the tools, knowledge, and public mandate to rebuild abundance. Now we need momentum for the government to act.

Sign the petition and call on the Minister of Fisheries to rebuild wild marine fish.

Right Honourable

Mark

Carney

Government of Canada

The Honourable

Joanne

Thompson

Department of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Dear Hon. Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries,

As Canada’s Minister of Fisheries, I urge you to address the current state of Canada’s fisheries, as assessed in Oceana Canada’s ninth annual Fishery Audit. According to this report, just over one-third of Canada’s marine fish and invertebrate populations are considered healthy, while the rest are depleted or lack a health status.

I support healthy fish populations and well-managed fisheries. I call on you to take the following actions:

1.	Fisheries sustainability: Ensure all federally managed stocks are protected under the Fish Stocks provisions of the Fisheries Act to guarantee science-based rebuilding. 
2.	Ecosystem approach: Strengthen and expand the Forage Species Policy to all forage fish to restore ocean food webs and long-term productivity. 
3.	Indigenous reconciliation: Strengthen law, policy, and practices to enable collaborative management with Indigenous governments and include Indigenous Knowledge Systems. 
4.	Precautionary approach and climate adaptation: Provide certainty and predictability for harvesters by building climate-resilient fisheries, delivering timely stock assessments, and ensuring full catch monitoring.
5.  Transparency and accountability: Publish timely fisheries management plans and advisory records with inclusive participation.

Rebuilding depleted fish stocks is essential to support fishing industries and to restore biodiversity, food security, and the cultural fabric of coastal and Indigenous communities.

Sincerely, 
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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