Maritimes Region: Application for Licence Issued Pursuant to Section 52 of the Fishery (General) Regulations SOR 93-53

Refer to Fishery (General) Regulations SOR 93-53 Part VII

Submit Inquiries and Completed Applications to Maritimes Region Section 52 Services:

 

Service Standards: Application processing time varies. The application review, approval, and issuance of licence can take up to 90 days from the date when all required information has been provided. To avoid delays, provide as much information as possible and we will notify you if additional information is required.

 

Application Form and Other Documents

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Before you apply for a Section 52 licence

  • Regional Jurisdiction: Both the DFO Gulf and DFO Maritimes Regions include portions of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Each region has a separate Section 52 Licence application and licensing process for activities that occur in the respective regions. To ensure you apply to the correct region, refer to Important Note (1) below.
     
  • Requirement to Provide Additional Information: DFO may contact Applicant(s) to discuss or obtain more information about the application. The Applicant(s) must provide all other relevant information that is requested by DFO if it is required for decision-making purposes.
     
  • Activities may require additional permits, licences and/or authorizations: For example: if your proposal involves interacting with a species listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act as endangered or threatened, if your proposed activities are planned to occur in a Marine Protected Area under the Oceans Act, or if your proposal involves harvesting bivalves in closed areas under the Marine Contaminated Fishery Regulations.  Refer to Important Notes (2-6) for more information on these examples and additional considerations.

 

Licence Purpose Definition

Licences may be issued pursuant to Section 52 of the Fishery (General) Regulations for any one of the following purposes.

  • Experimental/Scientific: Activities associated with capturing aquatic organisms for the purpose of measuring species abundance, distribution, and biological characteristics for the purpose of assessing stock status, environmental impact assessment, environmental monitoring programs, and/or for experiments in field or laboratory. As well, if the proposed activities are in support of the development of a fishery involving a new species and/or stock additional approvals will be required under the New Emerging Fisheries Policy (NEFP). For more information, refer to Important Note (7).

 

  • Educational: Activities associated with capturing aquatic organisms for the purpose of demonstrating sampling techniques, aquatic diversity, biological principles, and/or public relations. This may include retaining organisms for further analysis.

 

  • Aquatic Invasive Species Control: Activities associated with controlling aquatic invasive species, as identified under the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations.
     
  • Public Display: Activities associated with capturing aquatic organisms for the purpose of retaining the animals (dead or alive) and displaying them in public venues. The aquatic organisms are specifically destined to be removed from the wild and held in captivity and are not to be returned to the wild after capture. Generally, these organisms would be destroyed after the public display purposes are fulfilled.  Examples include school aquaria, "touch tanks", "living streams", displaying remains, etc. Public Display permits require an annual fee. For more details contact RegionalLicensing.XMAR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

 

Important Notes


(1) Regional Jurisdiction

This application is for activities that will occur within waters of the DFO Maritimes Region, which includes all internal waters that drain into the Bay of Fundy and Scotian Shelf, including the marine waters of these areas. Both the DFO Gulf Region and the DFO Maritimes Region include portions of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but have separate Section 52 licencing processes. Activities that will occur at the regional boundary may require licences from both regions.

Please review the following information to ensure that you use the correct regional application:

 

(2) Reporting Requirement

Activities conducted under a Section 52 Licence must be documented in a Reporting Document called 'Appendix A', which will be attached to approved licences when they are issued. The report must be submitted to the following mailbox within 60 days of completion of the activities outlined in the licence. Renewal applications will not be approved if a report from the previously-issued licence/season has not been submitted to DFO.

Submit Appendix A Reporting Documents: MARSLRM@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

(3) Species At Risk

If a proposed activity has the potential to affect a Species at Risk on Schedule 1, listed as endangered or threatened, their residence, or their critical habitat, Applicant(s) may need a Species at Risk Act (SARA) Section 73 Permit. Please consider the following when completing your application:

When selecting project location(s), if you are unsure as to whether a location overlaps with the distribution of a species listed on Schedule 1 of SARA, as endangered or threatened, please consult the Aquatic Species at Risk Map.

More information on SARA Section 73 permit requirements and an application form are available: Permitting under the Species at Risk Act.

For additional information contact the Species at Risk Management Division, Maritimes Region:

(4) Marine Protected Areas and Marine Refuges

There are several Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Marine Refuges in the DFO Maritimes Region. These areas have been established to protect particular species, habitats, and/or ecological features.

For more information contact DFO Marine Planning and Conservation: DFO.MaritimesMPAs-ZPMMaritimes.MPO@DFO-MPO.GC.CA.

 

(5) Introduction of Live Fish

If the proposed activity has the potential to introduce live fish into fish habitat or transfer live fish to or between fish rearing facilities, Applicant(s) may require a licence pursuant to Section 56 of the Fishery (General) Regulations.

Application process and provincial contacts: Introductions and transfers

 

(6) Contaminated Areas and Management of Contaminated Fisheries

If the proposed activity involves the collection of any species in an area where a Prohibition Order has been issued due to contamination, the activity must be licenced pursuant to Section 4(1) of the Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations. Please note that there is an additional fee required for scientific licences issued under these regulations.

Applicant(s) are advised to check the status of any potentially-contaminated area(s) that may fall within their planned activities and note if they intend to operate in contaminated areas while Prohibition Orders apply.

 

(7) New Emerging Fisheries: Scientific/Experimental and/or Exploratory Fisheries

If the proposed activity supports development of fisheries involving new species and/or stocks that are not utilized or not fully utilized, and not currently covered by a management plan, an additional application is required under the New Emerging Fisheries Policy (NEFP).

Contact the New Emerging Fisheries Policy unit at: DFO.MARNEFP-PNPMAR.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

 
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