Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning fisheries, aquaculture, molluscan shellfish, and marine conservation. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to see GR activities in areas of the economy related to the Fisheries channel? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Environment and Agri-Food.

Dates: 2025-11-09 to 2025-11-15

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial Government News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal Government News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• House FOPO Committee Meeting: Review of the Fisheries Act – November 18, 2025: The House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans will meet November 18 to review the Fisheries Act. Scheduled witnesses include representatives from the Canadian Association of Prawn Producers, Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters Federation, Maritime Fishermen's Union, Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, University of Ottawa, Assembly of First Nations, and the BC Shrimp Trawlers’ Association. The session will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 420, Wellington Building.
• House FOPO Committee Meeting: Further Review of the Fisheries Act – November 20, 2025: On November 20, the House of Commons Fisheries and Oceans Committee reconvenes to continue its study of the Fisheries Act, featuring testimony from the RAD Network, which advises on Indigenous-led fish habitat stewardship, Vancouver Anti-Corruption Institute, and officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Meeting is from 8:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in Room 425, Wellington Building.
• Senate POFO Committee: Ocean Carbon Sequestration – November 18, 2025: The Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans will sit November 18 to examine ocean carbon sequestration. Witnesses include senior officials from Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Treasury Board. Meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Room W110, Wellington St.
• Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources – Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Industry (Nov 20): On November 20, the committee continues its study of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry with witnesses from Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union and Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, alongside Trades NL representatives. Discussion includes regional impacts and labor relations.

Canadian Federal Government News

Federal Budget 2025: $186M Allocation to Buy Canadian Policy and SME Procurement Program

Minister Joanne Thompson, in Gander, detailed Budget 2025 measures that provide $186 million in new funding to fully implement the Buy Canadian Policy across all federal departments. This includes $98.2 million over five years for Public Services and Procurement Canada and $79.9 million over five years for a Small and Medium Business Procurement Program designed to aid Canadian businesses entering the federal market. Contracts will favor Canadian suppliers and require Canadian content from trusted trade partners if domestic sources are unavailable. The new rules extend to infrastructure programs, channeling as much as $70 billion in additional public investment to Canadian-made products and services. The Buy Canadian Policy will influence major initiatives, such as energy, transportation, housing, defense, and community infrastructure, aiming to reinforce domestic supply chains and federal procurement processes. These changes are scheduled for staged implementation through multiple agencies over the coming fiscal years.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canadian Coast Guard Accepts $1.47 Billion Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel

The Canadian Coast Guard formally accepted the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, a new Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel constructed at Vancouver Shipyards under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The vessel will serve on the East Coast, accommodating 34 crew and 26 scientists, and is equipped with modular science labs and advanced ocean monitoring technology. At $1.47 billion, the project provided substantial industrial and employment benefits, including support for over 1,000 shipyard workers and hundreds of suppliers nationally. The vessel will collect oceanographic data to support fisheries management, ecosystem monitoring, and Canada's international research obligations, with service entry scheduled for 2026 at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada Water Agency Opens Applications for Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives

Minister Julie Dabrusin, speaking in Winnipeg, announced that the Canada Water Agency is now accepting applications for partner-led projects targeting freshwater protection and habitat restoration under the federal Freshwater Action Plan. Five funding calls are regionally focused on waterbodies of national significance, and two additional calls are through the EcoAction program supporting community-based sustainability initiatives. Successful applicants will engage in activities such as aquatic habitat restoration, water quality improvement, capacity-building projects, and Indigenous-led stewardship. Application deadlines are in December 2025 and January 2026.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canadian Coast Guard Receives Largest Science Vessel in Fleet

Minister Mélanie Joly attended Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards to accept the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk for the Canadian Coast Guard. The vessel features capabilities for marine mammal observation, multiple laboratories, and support for both research and environmental response missions. Built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the ship is expected to expand Canada’s capacity for marine science and coastal resource management while contributing to sovereign operations in the Atlantic and Arctic.

Sources: www.canada.ca

StatsCan Releases Provincial Input-Output Tables for 2022

Statistics Canada published new provincial input-output tables for 2022. These datasets enable detailed economic analysis of inter-industry flows and sectoral dependencies, supporting sectoral planning and supply chain assessment across regions.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Employment by Industry in Rural Canada: New Data for October 2025

Statistics Canada updated its interactive dashboard with October 2025 data on rural employment by industry. The dashboard provides sector-specific labor force trends for rural regions, informing workforce planning in primary sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, and food processing.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canadian Provincial Government News

Nova Scotia Seafood Trade Mission Targets China Amid Tariff Headwinds

Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Kent Smith led a 10-day trade mission to China to deepen ties and promote provincial seafood products, despite new tariffs on Canadian seafood. Delegates participated in the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo and held meetings with Chinese officials, buyers, and federal representatives.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

US Federal Government News

EPA Proposes Exemptions to PFAS Data Reporting Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed amendments to reporting and recordkeeping requirements for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under TSCA. The proposed rule would exempt PFAS present at concentrations below 0.1%, PFAS imported as part of finished articles, byproducts and impurities not used commercially, and substances strictly for research and development. EPA estimates a regulatory cost reduction of $786–$843 million and is soliciting public comments through December 29, 2025.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Closure of U.S. Atlantic Blueline Tilefish Commercial Fishery

Effective November 10, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service closed the federal Atlantic blueline tilefish commercial fishery for the remainder of the 2025 season after landing projections indicated the quota was met. Vessels with federal permits are prohibited from possessing, transferring, or landing blueline tilefish from the Tilefish Management Unit until December 31, 2025.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

EPA Publishes EI Statements: Matagorda Ship Channel Draft EIS Notice

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of availability for a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement regarding the Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project in Port Lavaca, Texas. Public comment is open until December 29, 2025. The EIS process may involve changes impacting regional shipping, fisheries habitat, and port infrastructure.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

US–Guatemala, Ecuador, and Argentina Advance Reciprocal Trade Frameworks

The White House released joint statements on reciprocal trade frameworks with Guatemala, Ecuador, and Argentina. These agreements include provisions on market access, non-tariff barriers removal, digital trade facilitation, enforcement of environmental laws including fisheries subsidies commitments, and alignment with international standards.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Government Consultations

CFIA Consultation on Aquatic Animal Susceptible Species List

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is collecting feedback until November 18, 2025, on proposed amendments to the Susceptible Species of Aquatic Animals list, with recommended changes for Perkinsus marinus and Perkinsus olseni to align with the World Organization for Animal Health listings.

Sources: inspection.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• CBC: Nova Scotia 'recalibrating' its relationship with China as minister attends fisheries expo: Story on Nova Scotia's evolving approach to seafood trade and export market conditions in China.
• CBC: P.E.I. company wants to import disease-resistant oyster stock from U.S.: Report on Prince Edward Island aquaculture company seeking U.S. oyster broodstock for resilience.

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