The Government of Canada Announces the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program now open for applications                                      

Fish and seafood harvesters in Labrador help to drive the economy in this community. Canadians across the country have faced hardship due to COVID-19, and our fisheries have faced unique challenges that require direct solutions.    

In May, the Government of Canada announced $469.4 million in funding to establish the new Fish Harvester Benefit and the new Fish Harvester Grant. This is the single largest investment in Canada’s fisheries in more than two decades. The Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program was designed to work within the unique pay structures and seasonal nature of the fishing sector. It will help to ensure that Canada’s hardworking fish harvesters get the financial support they need right now, while also positioning the sector for a strong recovery in the long-term.

On August 5, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, announced that the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program will open for applications from August 24, 2020 through to September 21, 2020.  

The program is now open for applications and we invite all fish harvesters wishing to apply to visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/harvesters-pecheurs to determine if they are eligible, find out what documentation is required, and start the application process.

Quotes

“Today independent harvesters from coast to coast to coast are able to apply for much needed support through the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program. These supports will help ensure that the hard-working women and men of our fisheries have the funds they need to keep their employees on payroll, keep their business operations going, and keep supporting their families and communities. Canada’s fishers are a driving force in our nation’s economy, and by investing in them and their businesses, we are investing our country’s larger, economic recovery.”

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“Service Canada is dedicated to supporting Canadians who are applying for the new Fish Harvester Grant. The online application is intuitive and easy to use, and if they need additional assistance with their application, our call centre agents are ready to help them apply for these new financial measures.”   

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has announced additional targeted new initiatives to support Canadians, including Canada’s fishing, aquaculture and processing sectors, through the COVID-19 pandemic, such as:

• the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund, a new $62.5 million initiative to assist the fish and seafood processing sectors;
• an investment of $50 million to help farmers, fish harvesters, and all food production and processing employers put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all workers arriving from abroad. This means the Government will provide $1,500 per temporary foreign worker to employers or those working with them to ensure the isolation requirements are fully met;
• the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund is helping Canada enhance its reputation as a country that provides legal, sustainable, high quality, and value-added fish and seafood products; and
• the Surplus Food Rescue Program is a time-limited program to help manage and redirect existing surpluses to organizations addressing food insecurity to avoid food waste during the COVID-19 crisis.
• The Government is also implementing temporary measures to support self-employed fish harvesters who rely on EI fishing benefits in the off-season. These measures will allow EI fishing benefits for these workers to be calculated using either their actual fishing earnings for their current claim, or their fishing earnings from their claim for the same season from the previous year, whichever is higher.
• On May 14, 2020 the Government of Canada announced that it would propose measures that would allow self-employed fishers to access Employment Insurance benefits on the basis of insurable earnings from previous seasons (winter and summer claims). Additional details will be shared as soon as they are available.
  - 30 -

For more information:

Stay Connected

• Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
• Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.