An opinion article published on May 27, 2024, in which critics highlight that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not acted decisively to implement stronger traceability standards under the Safe Food for Canadians Act. The lack of robust enforcement is said to contribute to forced labour and human rights abuses in global seafood supply chains, as major retailers continue to source products with opaque origins.

A recent article criticizes Canada, and by extension Fisheries and Oceans Canada, for lagging behind in implementing effective measures to address labor abuses and human rights violations in global seafood supply chains. The article highlights poor working conditions for seafarers and migrant workers, and notes that despite new regulations such as the Forced Labour and Supply Chain Reporting Law, Canada has not enacted robust human rights due diligence legislation.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada released its 2024-25 Departmental Plan, outlining comprehensive measures to ensure sustainable fisheries management, bolster conservation efforts, enhance Indigenous reconciliation, and leverage innovation in technology and environmental practices. The plan emphasizes transparent stakeholder engagement, science-driven decision‐making, and a commitment to inclusivity, positioning the department as a progressive, anti‑authoritarian actor in managing Canada’s marine resources.

In mid-July 2023, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) reportedly confiscated lobster traps from the Sipekne’katik Nation, prompting the community to sue the department. This action comes amid longstanding tensions over the interpretation and implementation of treaty fishing rights and has been criticized as an example of heavy-handed enforcement that undermines Indigenous rights and equitable fisheries management.

In April 2023, Fisheries and Oceans Canada closed the elver fishery early following a series of violent altercations, including an incident where a fisher was allegedly hit with a metal pipe. This decision reflects mounting tensions over treaty rights and the manner in which indigenous and non‐indigenous fishers are policed.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced a $46.5 million, five-year investment to enhance ocean monitoring systems through funding provided to Ocean Networks Canada under Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan, aiming to improve real-time data collection and safeguard marine ecosystems.

An article published on 5 Jan 2023 highlights that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not implemented critical measures—such as the recommended boat-to-plate traceability program—to effectively regulate seafood imports. This regulatory inaction has resulted in forced labour conditions remaining unchecked in the seafood supply chain, undermining worker rights and ethical supply chain practices.

An article published on January 5, 2023, reports that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not adequately enforced the forced labour import ban in the seafood supply chain. The piece details concerns over labour abuses—including forced labour—and highlights the failure to implement traceability measures recommended by the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

In July 2022, Fisheries and Oceans Canada seized lobster traps used by the Sipekne’katik Nation in their moderate livelihood fishery. This action intensified conflicts over indigenous treaty rights and further eroded trust between the community and the federal department.

A 2022 report highlights that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has failed to implement a mandated boat-to-plate traceability system and address forced labour and unacceptable working conditions in Canadian seafood supply chains, leaving the department complicit in neglecting worker rights.

In July 2021, Fisheries and Oceans Canada signed the Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement with Coastal First Nations. The agreement established collaborative governance structures, improved economic access to fisheries, and supported community-based fisheries initiatives, reinforcing a Nation-to-Nation relationship and emphasizing the recognition of Indigenous rights as part of Canada's commitment under UNDRIP.