Commercial Fisheries Designation Fee Act

June 14, 2023

The Nunatsiavut Assembly today passed a new Bill that provides the Nunatsiavut Government legislative authority and oversight with respect to the collection of access fees from fishers.

The Nunatsiavut Government has a Commercial Fisheries Policy which allocates fishing designations to commercial fish quotas for eligible persons or enterprises.

The Nunatsiavut Government has previously instituted the requirement of designates to pay an access fee based on the amount of fish resources landed under designations.

The monies collected from the access fees are allocated to the Nunatsiavut Commercial Fisheries Fund, which was established to hold funds for the purpose of growing and promoting the commercial fishery in the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area.

“This Bill will give my department the power to make regulations that set the level of access fees within defined limits, specify when fees become due,” said Lands and Natural Resources Minister Terry Vincent. “It will permit the development of regulations and agreements
concerning the remittance of access fees, outline application of penalties for late or non- payment of access fees, and grant us the ability to demand and inspect records to ensure compliance.”

This policy, prior to its approval and implementation, had extensive consultation with fishers and other interested parties.

Media Contact:
Janice Goudie
Communications Assistant
Janice.Goudie@nunatsiavut.com
(709) 896-8582

NT4