| #Q001 | prohibition | unknown | mandatory | Prohibition on Throwing Overboard Deleterious Substances and Fish Remains | aquatic life | No one shall (a) throw overboard ballast, coal ashes, stones or other prejudicial or deleterious substances in any river, harbour or roadstead, or in any water where fishing is carried on; (b) leave or deposit or cause to be thrown, left or deposited, on the shore, beach or bank of any water or on the beach between high and low water mark, remains or offal of fish or of marine animals; or (c) leave decayed or decaying fish in any net or other fishing apparatus. | | high |
| #Q002 | operational | operational | guidance | Disposal of Remains and Offal | aquatic life | Remains or offal described in subsection (1) may be buried ashore, above high water mark. | | high |
| #Q003 | prohibition | unknown | mandatory | Prohibition on Deposit of Deleterious Substances | aquatic life | Subject to subsection (4), no person shall deposit or permit the deposit of a deleterious substance of any type in water frequented by fish or in any place under any conditions where the deleterious substance or any other deleterious substance that results from the deposit of the deleterious substance may enter any such water. | Subject to exceptions authorized by regulation in subsection (4) | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | unknown | guidance | Exemption for Authorized Deposits | aquatic life | No person contravenes subsection (3) by depositing or permitting the deposit in any water or place of (a) waste or pollutant of a type, in a quantity and under conditions authorized by regulations applicable to that water or place made by the Governor in Council under any Act other than this Act; (b) a deleterious substance of a class and under conditions — which may include conditions with respect to quantity or concentration — authorized under regulations made under subsection (5) applicable to that water or place or to any work or undertaking or class of works or undertakings; or (c) a deleterious substance the deposit of which is authorized by regulations made under subsection (5.2) and that is deposited in accordance with those regulations. | | high |
| #Q005 | monitoring | reporting | mandatory | Minister-Directed Monitoring and Reporting | aquatic life | A person authorized to deposit a deleterious substance by or under regulations made under subsection (5) or (5.2) shall, when directed by the Minister, despite any regulations made under paragraph (5)(e) or (5.2)(d) or any conditions set out in an authorization made under paragraph (5)(f), conduct any sampling, analyses, tests, measurements or monitoring, install or operate any equipment or comply with any procedures, and report any information, that is required by the Minister in order to determine whether the person is depositing the deleterious substance in the manner authorized. | When directed by the Minister | high |
| #Q006 | operational | operational | mandatory | Ballast Water Management Plan | aquatic life, other | The regulations require all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters to: develop and put in place an approved ballast water management plan; | Applies to all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters | high |
| #Q007 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Organism Release Standards | aquatic life | The regulations require all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters to: follow standards that limit the number of organisms released; | Applies to all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters | high |
| #Q008 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Vessel Survey and Inspection | other | The regulations require all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters to: be regularly surveyed and inspected by an authorized organization; | Applies to all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters | high |
| #Q009 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Ballast Water Record Keeping | other | The regulations require all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters to: keep records; | Applies to all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Convention Compliance Certificate | other | The regulations require all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters to: carry a valid certificate that allows inspectors to confirm that the vessel complies with the convention. | Applies to all Canadian vessels and all other vessels entering Canadian waters | high |
| #Q011 | treatment | treatment | mandatory | Fresh Water Ballast Exchange and Treatment | aquatic life | Vessels arriving in Canada’s fresh waters from another country (other than vessels arriving from U.S. Great Lakes waters) need to continue to exchange ballast water and use the new management systems to protect these vulnerable areas. | Vessels arriving in fresh waters from countries other than U.S. Great Lakes waters | high |
| #Q012 | operational | operational | mandatory | Domestic Vessel Standards Timeline | aquatic life | Canadian vessels that don’t voyage internationally, other than to U.S. Great Lakes ports, need to meet Convention standards at launch, in 2024 or in 2030 depending on when they were built | Depends on the vessel's build date | high |
| #Q013 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Ballast Water Reporting Form Submission | other | vessels are still required to submit a ballast water reporting form | | high |
| #Q014 | operational | treatment | mandatory | Ballast Water Exchange and Saltwater Flushing for International Voyages | aquatic life | vessels on international voyages that use a ballast water management system must continue exchanging ballast water and saltwater flushing before operating in Canadian fresh waters. | Applies to vessels on international voyages using a ballast water management system in Canadian fresh waters | high |
| #Q015 | design | treatment | mandatory | Ballast Water Management System Installation | aquatic life | For many vessels, this includes complying with the convention and installing an approved ballast water management system. | Applies to vessels as specified in the convention and regulations | high |
| #Q016 | operational | treatment | mandatory | System Maintenance and Proper Use | aquatic life | As needed, ballast water taken on board in these areas is considered to meet standards when a suitable system is installed on time, and properly used and maintained | Applies when a ballast water management system is used to meet standards in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River | high |
| #Q017 | operational | operational | guideline | Equivalent Compliance for Smaller Vessels | aquatic life | Some smaller vessels (including those less than 50 m long that remain in Canada) can follow equivalent rules better suited to their operations and size. Some smaller vessels can follow the convention guidelines for equivalent compliance. | Vessels less than 50 m long remaining in Canada | high |
| #Q018 | prohibition | unknown | mandatory | Regulatory Scope for U.S. Vessels in Great Lakes | aquatic life | American vessels that transit between U.S. ports in the Great Lakes won’t be regulated by Canada unless they do business in Canada that involves taking on or releasing ballast water. | U.S. vessels transiting between U.S. ports in the Great Lakes | high |