Canada’s marine environment is changing. While we have a robust overall regulatory framework in place for domestic vessel oversight, the primary focus of this oversight for decades has been on large vessels in our coasts and waterways.
During the next phase of the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada will modernize its domestic oversight of regulated vessels—including tugs, small fishing vessels, small passenger vessels, and workboats—by 2027.
This modernized approach will strengthen monitoring and enforcement efforts, especially for small vessels of 15 gross tonnage or less.