Welcome to OCFA Site
Welcome to the web site of the Ontario Commercial Fisheries' Association. The OCFA represents an industry that has been a part of the history, culture and economy of our part of the world for a very long time. There was a recognizable commercial fishery before Europeans colonized what we now call Ontario. Fishing was one of the first industries established in new communities that sprang up as Europeans pushed up the Great Lakes in the early years of Canada's founding.
We are proud of our history and proud of our modern role as purveyors of nutritious, wholesome fish products sustainably harvested from Ontario's waters.
March 2022
The Lake Erie Committee announced the 2022 quota allocations for Yellow Perch and Walleye March 25, 2022. See the link below for the information.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Connor Warne conner.warne@ocfa.on.ca or Jane Graham jane.graham@ocfa.on.ca
2022 Erie TAC Announcement March 25, 2022 (162 KB)
January 2022
Notice of OCFA Annual General Meeting - (Members Only) - see the Events page for more information.
Thursday, February 17th, 2022, 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Being held Virtually
Mini Convention - (All Welcome)
To follow at 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
To register contact:
Jane Graham - jane.graham@ocfa.on.ca.
Colleen Hawthorne -calling the office and leaving a voice message @519-676-0488 x105, or email colleen.hawthorne@ocfa.on.ca
December 2021
Welcome to New Staff at the OCFA:
The OCFA is pleased to introduce Connor Warne, the OCFA’s new Fisheries Biologist. Connor comes to the OCFA from the University of Guelph where he is a PhD Candidate in Environmental Sciences. He will be supporting the OCFA on any science-related issues. Please reach out to Connor to introduce yourself or if you have any issues or questions. Connor can be reached at connor.warne@ocfa.on.ca or by phone at 519-732-9965.
OCFA Annual Meeting and Mini Convention:
The OCFA will be holding its’ 2022 Annual Meeting and Mini Convention on Thursday, February 17th from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. It will be a virtual meeting again this year. The Annual Meeting will begin at 3:00 p.m. followed by a short speakers’ program beginning at 3:30 p.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. More details will be available early in the new year.
Contact informtion:
Jane Graham - email jane.graham@ocfa.on.ca.
Colleen Hawthorne -calling the office and leaving a voice message @519-676-0488 x105 or email colleen.hawthorne@ocfa.on.ca
April 7, 2020
FedDev Ontario investment helping fish and seafood sector in southwestern Ontario remain strong
March 9, 2020
Quotas for the Lake Erie fishery will be set by the Lake Erie Committee on March 26th. The OCFA is inviting all of the Lake Erie licence holder members to a Zoom meeting on Friday, March 19th at 3:00 p.m. for a presentation on the status of the stocks and a discussion about where quotas could end up for 2021 (emphasis on Yellow Perch and Walleye). Details regarding the call will be sent out prior to the meeting. If you are interested in participating please let me know. Also, if you have any questions please get in touch with either Michael Thorn or Jane Graham.
October 26, 2020
MNRF Suspends Commercial Fishing Royalties for 2020
In a letter to the OCFA, MNRF Minister John Yakabuski, announced that commercial fishing Royalties would be suspended for 2020 and that anyone that had paid Royalties for fish harvested in 2020, would receive a refund for the amount already paid. The decision is the result of discussions with the OCFA over the past several months focusing on the impacts of COVID-19 and what the Ministry could do to assist the industry. Relief from Royalties for 2020 is the result of those discussions. The OCFA thanks the MNRF for the decision which will help to support the livelihoods of the commercial fishery as it deals with the fall-out from COVID-19.
Questions should be directed to Jane Graham at jane.graham@ocfa.on.ca
Jane Graham, Executive Director, OCFA
May 14, 2020
Good afternoon. Please see the following announcement from the Prime Minister regarding support for fish harvesters across Canada. Specific details of the 2 Programs – Fish Harvester Benefit and Fish Harvester Grant - have not been announced and OCFA will continue to monitor and provide updates as they become available.
Prime Minister announces new support for Canada’s fish harvesters
May 14, 2020
Ottawa, Ontario
Canadians working in the fishing industry are feeling the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why the Government of Canada is taking action to support those workers, who help provide families and communities across the country with high-quality fish and seafood.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced up to $469.4 million in new measures to support Canada’s fish harvesters, who are economically impacted by the pandemic but cannot access existing federal measures. This investment builds on the $62.5 million for the new Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund announced last month to help Canada’s fish and seafood processing sector.
The Government of Canada will:Launch the Fish Harvester Benefit, a program worth up to $267.6 million, to help provide income support for this year’s fishing seasons to eligible self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons crew who cannot access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Support will be provided to those that experience fishing income declines of greater than 25 per cent in the 2020 tax year, compared with a reference period to be identified. This measure covers 75 per cent of fishing income losses beyond a 25 per cent income decline threshold, up to a maximum individual entitlement equivalent to what is provided under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ($847 per week for up to 12 weeks).
Launch the Fish Harvester Grant, a program worth up to $201.8 million, to provide grants to help fish harvesters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and who are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Business Account or equivalent measures. This will give them more liquidity to address non-deferrable business costs. The program would provide non-repayable support of up to $10,000 to self-employed fish harvesters with a valid fishing licence. Size of the non-repayable support will vary depending on the level of fish harvesters’ historic revenue.
Propose measures or changes to Employment Insurance (EI) that would allow self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons to access EI benefits on the basis of insurable earnings from previous seasons (winter and summer claims).
Additional details on these measures will be made available soon.
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the resilience of Canada’s food system and its workers. We will continue to monitor and respond to the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19, and take additional actions as needed to protect the health and safety of Canadians, and stabilize the economy.
Jane Graham
Executive Director
Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association