In March of 2017, to much fanfare, the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) was born.
According to the politicians of the day, the AFF was to be a contribution program funded jointly by the federal, provincial and territorial governments. It was to invest over $400 million over seven years to support Canada’s fish and seafood sector.
The fund aimed to help Canada’s seafood sector transition to meet growing market demands for products that are high quality, value added and sustainably sourced. The federal government would provide 70 per cent of the funding and 30 per cent would come from participating provinces and territories.
Originally, the AFF was slated to span seven years from 2017 to March 2024. The program, however, was afforded a two-year extension and is set to expire in March of this year.
Last February, The Navigator interviewed AFF program director Rob McDonald. He explained that the fund was extended to March 2026, with millions left on the table for those in Atlantic Canada’s marine industries.
“The minister was successful in obtaining an extension for that because we still had some fairly significant funds left on the table to invest,” said McDonald. “The two-year extension allowed us to do a couple of things. It allowed us to continue to approve projects beyond the original 2024 sunset date, which we’ve been doing, to allow us to continue to invest the remaining funds. It also gave recipients more time to actually implement their project. When we approve the funding, they still have to actually do the project; those can take multiple years.”
In total, 70 per cent of the AFF’s funding had gone into the “infrastructure pillar” for new technology adoption, 22 per cent has gone into research and development and the remaining eight per cent has gone into science partnerships in the industry.
So, what now? In early 2025, there were rumours of an AFF 2.0 — a further extension of the project, but Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget last fall might have poured cold water on that sentiment. It was announced that DFO would be receiving a 15 per cent budget cut, leading many observers to believe that this would be the death knell for the AFF.
“Fisheries and Oceans to meet up to 15 per cent in savings targets over three years, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) will wind down research and monitoring activities that have either achieved their objectives or for which alternative data sources exist, scale back certain policy and program capabilities, reduce management layers, and right-size internal services,” the budget read.
However, with news that AFF might now be on the chopping block, regional politicians and industry advocates alike were quick to lobby for an extension to the funding program.
The four Atlantic Canadian Premiers collectively penned a letter to the Prime Minister asking for the continuation of the AFF.
“As you know, the importance of the commercial fishing, seafood processing and aquaculture industries in Atlantic Canadian communities and for livelihoods in the region cannot be overstated. As this sector grapples with the challenges of today, such as risks posed by tariffs, climate change and emerging disease threats, continuing and enhancing the Atlantic Fisheries Fund is more important than ever.”
“Since its inception in 2017, the Fund has significantly contributed to advancing innovation, sustainability and science partnerships within Atlantic Canada’s fish and seafood sector. With over $400 million in shared federal-provincial investment, this well-subscribed funding has been instrumental in supporting the long-term viability of the industry and inspiring innovation. The Fund’s success is tied to its flexibility to support the industry’s diverse needs throughout the region.”
“Prior to the federal election, your party committed to enhancing the Fund and increasing its funding by 20 per cent. Currently, the Fund is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2026. The absence of an announcement regarding the Fund in Budget 2025 has created uncertainty throughout the sector. A clear funding commitment is urgently needed to enable Atlantic Canadian companies to continue to plan and invest confidently, ensuring they remain globally competitive and productive,” the letter went on to read.
The FFAW-Unifor also chimed in with concerns about the AFF, calling it government oversight.
The Newfoundland and Labrador-based union said the program is a “vital federal program that has been instrumental in driving advancements across our lobster and broader seafood sectors. Without renewed commitment, these much-needed investments — from vessel modernization to processing upgrades — could vanish entirely, leaving harvesters and plants ill-equipped to compete in a global market. The FFAW is calling on the federal government to immediately clarify the program’s status and make clear where fisheries stand in terms of federal priorities.”
The aquaculture industry also petitioned the federal government to maintain the program.
The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) also urged Prime Minister Carney to renew and enhance the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.
“The AFF has been a practical, effective program which has supported critical R&D programs and infrastructure to enhance capacity and efficiency in our sector resulting in highly valued return on investments for Atlantic Canada. Since 2017, a federal investment of $295 million — matched by $126.5 million from Atlantic provinces — has helped fisheries and aquaculture businesses modernize, improve productivity, increase competitive advantage in a global supply sector, and expand into new markets which all support the Atlantic Growth Strategy by accelerating the growth of Atlantic Canada’s economy. The Atlantic Provinces have also invested additional hundreds of millions in project funding, reflecting strong regional confidence in this sector. Ending the AFF in March 2026 would slow progress at a time when global demand for seafood is growing and trade uncertainty requires stable, competitive industries.”
ACFFA went on to say that “renewing the AFF also supports the goals of the new Atlantic Economic Panel established by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The panel is focused on improving productivity, attracting private investment, creating jobs and building long-term economic growth. The AFF funding would be a catalyst in accelerating growth and unlocking transformational opportunities for Atlantic Canada, leading to continued growth in population, GDP and tax base which support government programs and services.”
It is still too early to determine what, if anything will remain related to the AFF this year. But it is a very safe bet that going forward, the Atlantic Fisheries Fund is going to look a lot different than the much-hyped program that rolled out in 2017.
