NAIA Partners with Communities to Oppose Marine Conservation Area
The Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) has launched its campaign, calling on Premier Hogan’s government to reject a Federally proposed National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) along the South Coast.
The campaign highlights the voices of local community leaders and workers whose livelihoods would be threatened by an ecologically unnecessary and economically harmful area designation.
SaveSouthCoastJobs.com is a website that features testimonials from seafood workers, small business owners and community members from the Coast of Bays region on how important the fishing and aquaculture industries are to them, and the hardships they would face if the South Coast NMCA is implemented. The site also encourages Newfoundland and Labrador residents to sign a petition by sending a letter urging the provincial government to oppose the NMCA.
The South Coast of Newfoundland is home to a thriving aquaculture industry, which produces healthy, sustainable seafood and supports rural communities. It provides over 2,000 jobs and contributes over $280 million to the provincial economy. But this industry, and the many local jobs it supports, is threatened by the proposed NMCA, which would block off much of the South Coast’s waters to maritime workers that have long depended on them.
“Our South Coast communities are united in opposing this NMCA that would devastate our province’s thriving seafood industry,” said Keith Sullivan, NAIA’s executive director.
“Premier John Hogan, Minister Elvis Loveless, Minister Lisa Dempster, MP Cliff Small and all our government officials need to stand up for their constituents and oppose the NMCA before it can harm our businesses and communities.”
If implemented, boats will not be able to fish, aquaculture facilities will shut down, and the increased uncertainty surrounding the NMCA and its implementation will discourage investment in the region. This would threaten high-value seafood businesses such as the lobster fishery and farmed salmon, and would weaken the overall provincial economy. Worse, this economic pain is without merit; these seafood businesses are already highly regulated and are managed in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way.
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Canada Launches Mission to Combat Illegal Fishing
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently launched its third annual high seas patrol to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the high seas of the North Pacific, including near the Aleutian Island chain, focusing on migratory routes for key species like Pacific salmon.
The mission, known as Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), is led by DFO fishery officers and supported by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to protect fish stocks under Canada’s Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
As a Pacific nation, Canada is committed to deepening its engagement and its role across the Indo-Pacific region as an active and reliable partner.
Fishery officers and support personnel will patrol over 15,000 km while onboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a high endurance, multi-purpose vessel that is also a light icebreaker, and is biofuel capable. The expert crew will conduct high seas boardings and inspection operations under international law to ensure compliance with regulations and to detect IUU fishing.
During this mission, Canada’s CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier will make a special port visit during Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, where members of the public can visit the vessel and learn about Canada’s role in fighting IUU.
In addition to monitoring and enforcement by sea, Canada is conducting daily aerial surveillance this summer out of Hokkaido, Japan. Air patrols conducted by DFO fishery officers will monitor fishing vessels and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law. Canada’s air surveillance program has previously identified significant conservation concerns related to shark finning and illegal marine mammal harvest, including the harpooning of dolphins, and pollution events that threaten the marine environment. Continued monitoring for these activities will allow Canada to hold non-compliant vessels accountable.
As a Pacific nation, Canada recognizes that the Indo-Pacific region will play a significant and profound role in Canada’s future. Every issue that matters to Canadians — national security, economic prosperity, respect for international law and human rights, democratic values, public health, protecting our environment — will be shaped by the relationships that Canada, along with its partners, have with countries throughout the Indo-Pacific.
N.L. Moves to Unlock Economic Potential of Offshore Wind
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in partnership with the Government of Canada, recently announced the coming into force of legislation to enable the development of offshore renewable energy in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This follows the passage of the federal Bill C-49 in October 2024 and Newfoundland and Labrador’s mirror legislation, Bill 90, in March 2025.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is also committed to its strong history of joint management with the Government of Canada and will work together with them to unlock the enormous potential of offshore renewable energy collaboratively and responsibly.
Gear Removal at the End of Season and Lost Gear Reporting
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) would like to remind fish harvesters to ensure the removal of all set fishing gear from the water at the end of fishing seasons and to report all lost fishing gear as outlined in commercial fishing license conditions.
In July 2021, DFO launched the online Fishing Gear Reporting System (FGRS). Fish harvesters can easily access and submit the required lost or retrieved gear reporting forms simply and efficiently. This reporting helps the Department locate and remove lost gear from our waters and, where possible, return the gear to its rightful owner.
Depending on your regional COLs, you can choose to use any of the following available reporting tools:
- Fishing Gear Reporting System (FGRS) https://gg-ef.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/en
- Electronic Logbook (ELOG): Complete the section reserved for that purpose in the electronic logbook (ELOG)
- PDF Fishing Gear Form
- https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/reporting-declaration-eng.html
Leading the Way in Innovation for Safer Maritime Navigation
The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), under Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), is taking a leading role in validating new digital hydrographic standards.
DFO has announced the launch of the S-100 Sea Trials on the St. Lawrence River. The S-100 data model is a new global standard created by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which offers a new way of visualizing the marine environment using layered, interactive digital data that can be added to navigational charts.
Unlike traditional paper or electronic charts, the new standard integrates real-time information — like depths, landmarks, tides and currents into a single, dynamic format.
Until November 2025, Canada is offering S-100 digital navigation products and services free of charge to mariners, stakeholders, developers and other interested parties to test performance in real-life scenarios. The complex conditions of the St. Lawrence River, such as varying water depths, changing currents and navigational aids, position it as an ideal testing ground, and will provide invaluable insights for S-100’s future adoption across global waters.
Canada’s leadership in hosting the S-100 Sea Trials will advance the global transition toward consistent and reliable digital hydrographic standards. International adoption of these standards will allow mariners to enhance maritime safety, better route navigation and planning, and transportation efficiency which will reduce costs and contribute to a cleaner environment and ocean.
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American Bookings Continue to Drive Reservations on Nova Scotia-Maine Ferry Service
Americans coming to Nova Scotia continue to be the largest single group of users of the Nova Scotia-Maine ferry service.
“We are trending close to last year’s bookings in terms of Americans taking the service and there are signs of continued growth for more Americans coming to Nova Scotia this season,” said Mark Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bay Ferries Limited (BFL).
“Statistics Canada has reported a significant decrease in Canadian resident return trips to Canada by car and that trend is holding true for Canadian bookings on The CAT. Our team at BFL is ready and eager to welcome American and Canadian travellers on The CAT during the upcoming summer season and the commencement of daily service later next week for peak season.”
As of June 12, 2025, BFL has booked 19,308 passengers for travel during the 2025 operating season (last report was 12,898 as of May 9). This is in comparison to 24,285 passengers during the same period in 2024. The ship is running well with 15 round trips completed, with five round trips cancelled due to weather.
The CAT began its season on May 15, operating five days per week until June 18. Daily service began June 19, continuing until September 22. From September 25 to October 15, The CAT will operate five days per week.
Halifax Port Authority Welcomes Two New Executive Leaders
The Halifax Port Authority recently announced that two new leaders are joining the Executive team.
After a national search, Leanne Dixon, CPHR, joins as Vice President, Talent and Communications and Heidi Schedler, KC, joins as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
“As we look to the future, we’re welcoming to our organization two new, outstanding Executive leaders with a breadth of skills and experience,” said Fulvio Fracassi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Halifax Port Authority.
“They understand the importance and potential of the Port of Halifax and have careers that highlight their dedication to ensuring excellence and organizational success. We look forward to their contributions and new perspectives as we plan for the future of the Port.”
As Vice President, Talent and Communications, Leanne Dixon brings to the Port an extensive people-focused career from senior roles with the New Brunswick government, Emera, the IWK Health Centre and most recently, Nova Scotia Power. As a leader of human resources and strategic communications, Leanne brings expertise in employee and labour relations, occupational health and wellness, safety, recruitment, change management and organizational development. She currently serves as a Board member for the Prep Academy, an organization dedicated to preparing African Nova Scotian high school students for further education. She will lead efforts in employee engagement, leadership development, recruitment and retention, and corporate communications, supporting HPA’s mission to be a vital trade gateway and hub of national significance for cargo and cruise.
To the General Counsel role, Heidi Schedler brings experience intersecting the public and private sectors, including as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Halifax Water. She also worked with the N.S. Department of Justice, N.S. Securities Commission and in private practice. As National Past President of the Canadian Bar Association’s In-House Lawyers Association, she brings to the Port her dedication to continuous improvement of the legal profession.
Natural Gas Assessment Shows Natural Gas Opportunity
Newfoundland and Labrador has released the Provincial Government’s Natural Gas Resource Assessment which demonstrates the natural gas potential for the province in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin.
The assessment evaluated how much natural gas could be recovered from discovered natural gas resources in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin. This basin was the initial focus given the shallow waters, the existing producing infrastructure, and the supply and service community available to service any developments. The assessment determined that the natural gas resource base ranges from 8.1 to 11.3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) with a best estimate of 9.7 trillion cubic feet. For comparison, Nova Scotia’s Sable Offshore Energy Project estimated three trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas at the development stage and produced two trillion over a 20-year period.
The assessment represents the first comprehensive analysis of the provinceʼs gas potential in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin, utilizing current subsurface geological data and methodologies to estimate resources.
Budget 2023 included $4.7 million to conduct the Natural Gas Resource Assessment in the offshore area to define further and understand the range of estimated recoverable gas within the Jeanne d’Arc Basin.
The Natural Gas Resource Assessment helps the Provincial Government determine the potential of Newfoundland and Labradorʼs offshore natural gas as a contributor to future economic growth while offering part of the solution to the global path toward net-zero emissions. It will also provide greater certainty for investors to support the development of the resource.
Work began in the fall of 2023, focusing on evaluating 18 areas within the basin where there are proven discoveries within the significant discovery licenses (SDLs) or production licenses (PLs) in the currently producing fields of Hibernia, Hebron, White Rose, North Amethyst and Terra Nova.
While completing this assessment, additional proven natural gas resources adjacent to or residing on the SDLs and PLs were identified. Applying industry-standard methodology based on historically discovered resources, a projection of 20 identified prospects to be evaluated indicated potential for a further 7.4 to 30.6 tcf of natural gas.
Budget 2025 includes almost $1 million for the second phase of the natural gas resource assessment to evaluate the additional prospects identified. The next phase will continue building an inventory of proven and prospective gas resources across the Jeanne d’ Arc Basin.
Completing this next phase of the natural gas resource assessment will give potential developers essential data necessary to evaluate the economic viability of commercial development, along with insights into the upside value and tie-back opportunities. It will also improve the understanding of gas availability timing and allow the province to promote its gas development opportunities.
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N.L. Team Wins Big at the Underwater Robotics World Championships
Several Newfoundland and Labrador teams competed at the 2025 MATE ROV World Championship in Alpena, MI, recently and captured various major awards.
The competition is organized into five competition classes that range from beginner to advanced — Scout, Navigator, Ranger, Pioneer and Explorer.
Memorial University’s Eastern Edge Robotics was awarded third place in the most advanced category, Explorer. The team was comprised of 30 students from Memorial University and Marine Institute.
Team CEO Martha Snelgrove received the Martin Klein MATE Mariner Medal. This award is presented to the individual or team that demonstrates a penchant for a lifetime interest in the field of marine science and technology, among other traits.
ROV pilot Kaitlin Healey took home the Oceaneering Co-Pilot Award. This prestigious award recognizes the exceptional skills of a student who piloted their team to success at the MATE World Championship, and who demonstrated outstanding aptitude in adapting to the unique challenges of ROV piloting.
This year’s competition tasks involved measuring and identifying shipwrecks, collecting eDNA data of invasive marine species and maintaining marine renewable energy infrastructure and monitoring its environmental impact.
Western Wave Robotics — the team comprised of students from Memorial’s Grenfell Campus and College of the North Atlantic — competed in the Pioneer class for the first time. They placed fourth and received the Engineering Presentation award. In the Ranger category, Labrador Straits Academy received the Technical Documentation Award and placed within the top 15 teams. Clarenville High School placed within the top 10 and Holy Heart of Mary finished within the top 20.
Next year, the Marine Institute will be hosting the 2026 MATE ROV World Championship.
This will be the third time the Marine Institute has hosted the World Championships; first in 2007 and again in 2015. To date, the Institute has been the only venue to host the World Championships outside of the U.S.
