Fact Check: Conservatives Announce Plan to Protect Canada’s Fisheries After the Lost Liberal Decade, Conservatives will stop the chaos and put Canadian fishers first - for a change. April 16, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE West Dover, NS — Today, Rick Perkins, Conservative Candidate for South Shore—St. Margarets, and Chris D’Entremont, Conservative Candidate for Acadie-Annapolis, announced the Conservative plan to protect Canadian fisheries. A new Conservative government will put science first, restore law and order and protect harvester rights. Conservatives will restore sustainable fisheries and ensure fairness in Canada’s coastal communities. “During the Lost Liberal Decade, the government has failed Canada’s fish harvesters. They’ve ignored science, weakened enforcement, and stolen quota from law-abiding Canadians,” said Perkins. “Now they want a fourth term to do more damage. Enough is enough. We need to uphold principles of conservation and preserve sustainable access so we can protect our shared resource for future generations.” The Auditor General has confirmed that under the Liberals’ watch, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) cannot collect reliable catch data—crippling its ability to protect fish stocks and manage our fisheries sustainably. Meanwhile, DFO bureaucrats ignore the real-world experience of Canadian harvesters, creating a growing disconnect between science and what’s happening on the water. According to a 2024 Nanos poll, 98% of Maritime Fishermen’s Union members cite unregulated fishing as the number one threat to their ability to earn a living. Out-of-season and undocumented harvesting continues to rise due to the Liberals’ refusal to enforce the rules. Worse still, the sixth Liberal Fisheries Minister in ten years expropriated quota from legal elver harvesters, without compensation, sending shockwaves across the fishing industry. Harvesters worry they’ll be next. The Conservatives' Canada First Fisheries Plan will: Put Science First: A Conservative Government will return to completing appropriate assessments and monitoring of Canada’s fishery stocks so better and more timely management decisions for fish harvesters can be determined to allow the industry to prepare for the upcoming fishing season. Restore Law and Order: Conservatives will restore the sustainability of the Atlantic fishery by ensuring that fishing is allowed only in accordance with DFO regulations. Protect Harvester Rights – Conservatives will uphold the principle of Willing Buyer/Willing Seller so that if new entrants access quota or fishing rights, it be purchased at fair market value from existing license holders who are willing to sell. Fishing access obtained through this policy must be managed by DFO with clear conservation objectives based on science. “Canada’s fish harvesters follow the rules, and they deserve a government that respects their rights—not one that steals their livelihoods. All harvesting must be in accordance with the rules and only people with permission, licences, and quota can do the fishing,” said D’Entremont. “This election is a choice. We can’t afford a fourth term of more Liberal chaos. We need a new Conservative government that brings back common sense and puts Canadians First–For a Change.” Conservatives have a plan to bring back control over our natural resources, restore fairness and order, and protect the fishery for future generations. O Sleep Country Canada Sponsored ·

Claim Analysis: Conservatives Announce Plan to Protect Canada’s Fisheries

1. Introduction

On April 16, 2025, Conservative candidates Rick Perkins and Chris D’Entremont announced a plan to protect Canadian fisheries, criticizing the Liberal government for what they termed a "Lost Liberal Decade." The announcement included promises to prioritize scientific management, restore law and order, and protect the rights of fish harvesters. The statement also accused the Liberal government of failing to enforce regulations and mismanaging fish stocks, leading to significant challenges for Canadian fishers.

2. What We Know

The Conservative plan outlines several key components aimed at addressing issues within Canada's fisheries:

• Science First: The Conservatives propose to enhance the assessment and monitoring of fish stocks to inform better management decisions for fish harvesters 1.
• Law and Order: They aim to ensure that fishing activities comply strictly with Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) regulations 1.
• Harvester Rights: The plan includes a policy of "Willing Buyer/Willing Seller" for fishing quotas, ensuring fair market value transactions among fishers 1.

The announcement also references a 2024 Nanos poll indicating that 98% of Maritime Fishermen’s Union members view unregulated fishing as their primary threat 1. Furthermore, it highlights a controversial decision by the Liberal Fisheries Minister to expropriate quota from legal elver harvesters without compensation, which has reportedly caused unrest within the fishing community 1.

3. Analysis

Source Evaluation

The primary source of the claim is the Conservative Party's official announcement 1. While this source provides direct insight into the party's platform, it is essential to recognize that it is a self-reported statement from a political party, which may carry inherent bias. The language used is charged with political rhetoric, framing the Liberal government negatively without providing detailed evidence for the claims made.

The reference to the 2024 Nanos poll 1 is noteworthy, as polls can provide valuable insights into public opinion. However, without access to the full methodology and sample size, it is difficult to assess the reliability of this poll. Polls can be influenced by various factors, including question phrasing and timing, which may affect their outcomes.

Additionally, the claim regarding the DFO's inability to collect reliable catch data is supported by the Auditor General's reports, which have previously highlighted issues within the department's data collection and management practices 2. However, the specifics of these reports and their findings would need to be examined to understand the extent and implications of these claims.

Contradicting Perspectives

Contradictory viewpoints can be found in reports from independent news sources and analyses of the fishing industry. For instance, a CBC article discusses the complexities and challenges faced by the fishing industry in Nova Scotia, including environmental factors and international market pressures, which may not be fully addressed by political rhetoric 5. This context is crucial for understanding the broader challenges beyond governmental policies.

Moreover, the Conservative Party's framing of the Liberal government as solely responsible for the industry's struggles may overlook other contributing factors, such as climate change and global fishing practices. The nuances of these issues require a more comprehensive examination than what is presented in the Conservative announcement.

Methodological Concerns

The announcement lacks detailed evidence to support its claims about the Liberal government's failures and the proposed solutions. For instance, while it mentions the need for science-based management, it does not specify how the Conservatives plan to implement these scientific assessments or what benchmarks will be used to measure success. Additionally, the assertion that the Liberal government has "stolen quota" is a serious allegation that requires substantial evidence to substantiate.

4. Conclusion

Verdict: Mostly False

The claims made by the Conservative Party regarding their plan to protect Canadian fisheries are characterized as "Mostly False" due to several key factors. While the party outlines intentions to enhance scientific management and enforce regulations, the evidence provided lacks specificity and relies heavily on political rhetoric. The assertion that the Liberal government has mismanaged fisheries is not sufficiently substantiated with detailed evidence, and the complexities of the fishing industry's challenges are oversimplified.

Moreover, the reliance on a single poll without full methodological transparency raises questions about the validity of the claims regarding public opinion. The broader context of environmental factors and international pressures on the fishing industry is also inadequately addressed, suggesting that the Conservative narrative may not fully capture the multifaceted nature of the issues at hand.

It is important to acknowledge the limitations in the available evidence, as the claims primarily stem from a political announcement that may be biased. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented and consider multiple perspectives when assessing political statements and their implications for policy and industry practices.

5. Sources

1. Conservatives Announce Plan to Protect Canada's Fisheries. Conservative Party of Canada. Link
2. Auditor General of Canada Reports. Link
3. Canada election 2025: why some N.S. fishers are voting Conservative. CTV News. Link
4. In fishery-dependent N.S. ridings, industry turmoil is central. CBC News. Link

This article presents a detailed examination of the Conservative Party's claims regarding Canadian fisheries, highlighting the need for critical evaluation of political statements and the complexities of the issues at hand.