Fisheries Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. F-14).

This Act consists of 88 sections divided into the following Headings: Short title; Interpretation; Application; Fishery officers and fishery guardians; Fishery leases and licences; Seal hunting; Salmon fishing; Lobster fisheries; Construction of fish-ways; General prohibitions; Fish habitat protection and pollution prevention; Regulations; Marine plants; Powers of fishery officers and fishery guardians; Culture of fish; vacant public property; information returns; Obstruction and false information; Consequences of obtruction; Disposition of seized things; Offences and punishment; Ticketable offences; Joint liability; Limitation of suits; Form of procedure; Application of penalties and forfeitures; Application of Act to waters other than Canadian fisheries waters.
The Minister may, in his absolute discretion, wherever the exclusive right of fishing does not already exist by law, issue or authorize to be issued leases and licences for fisheries or fishing, wherever situated or carried on, provided that leases or licences for any term exceeding nine years shall be issued only under the authority of the Governor in Council (sect. 8). Except in accordance with the conditions of a licence issued by the Minister under section 45, no person shall harvest marine plants in the coastal waters of Canada in contravention of any regulation made pursuant to paragraph 46(a). The Minister may authorize any river or other water to be set apart for the natural or artificial propagation of fish (sect. 57). In 2019 new sections have been included (86.1 through section 86.96) on the ability to address Fisheries Act offences outside of courts using alternative measures agreements. Alternative measures are defined under section 86.1 as measures in respect of the protection of fisheries, fish or fish habitat or the prevention of pollution, other than judicial proceedings, that are used to deal with a person who is alleged to have committed an offence under this Act. The Act also provides for specific conditions and restrictions on use of these measures.