The federal government is changing the rules on how it protects fish habitats in the country.
This morning, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told reporters Ottawa is adopting a “common sense approach” in order to protect the productivity of recreational, commercial and Aboriginal fishers.
Ritz says current rules are too stringent and often go too far in protecting bodies of water where no fish may even be.
He denies it will make it easier for proponents of major industrial projects to get their projects approved:
“We’re talking about where there aren’t fisheries habitat. You know, we talked about irrigation canals, ditches that municipalities are trying to run culverts in. Right now, they have to have a DFO officer there checking for fish habitat in a ditch that might be miles away from any body of water. So, it’s a matter of making sure that these are practical, common sense situations.”
Ritz adds some cottage owners also find it difficult to clean up their properties because of the rules that are in place.
He says the government will consult with provinces, conservation groups and Aboriginal groups to pinpoint places where fish are known to be caught.
Ritz says what they are trying to do is “refocus on the reality of what does contain fish as opposed to what mythically may have sometime in the past or may never again”.
In a release, the government says under the current Fisheries Act, no distinction is drawn between vital lakes and rivers and small bodies of water where fish may not exist.
Ritz says legislation will be drawn up to so the changes can be adopted.