The governance framework for wild-capture fisheries varies widely across the world, but most frameworks generate and use science advice in decision-making, developed with some level of peer-review. The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) oversees the peer-review process of science related to the management of Canada’s fisheries and oceans; the resultant publications with science advice are the main source of scientific evidence used in decision-making in Canada’s fisheries. The CSAS has a publicly available policy intended to ensure transparency and timely dissemination of publications that is currently under review. To examine the effectiveness of the existing policy, inform its revision and development of similar policies in other jurisdictions, this paper evaluates the timeliness of the publication of scientific information to support the management of Canada’s fisheries and oceans from recent CSAS meetings against current policy deadlines. It was found that from 2017 to 2019, implementation of the policy was poor, with most documents published late, if at all. Furthermore, the science advice considered most during fisheries management decision-making was often not publicly available until after the decision was made and communicated. Despite having a policy to promote transparency, public engagement in policy and decision-making is being limited and a common understanding of the science evidence underlying advice inhibited. Transparency, which is becoming a cornerstone principle in modern fisheries management, is being compromised in Canadian fisheries management.

野生捕捞渔业的治理框架在世界范围内差异很大，但大多数框架在决策过程中产生和使用科学建议，并经过一定程度的同行评审。加拿大科学咨询秘书处 (CSAS) 负责监督与加拿大渔业和海洋管理相关的科学同行评审过程；由此产生的带有科学建议的出版物是用于加拿大渔业决策的科学证据的主要来源。CSAS 有一项公开可用的政策，旨在确保目前正在审查的出版物的透明度和及时传播。检查现有政策的有效性，告知其修订和其他司法管辖区类似政策的制定，. 结果发现，从 2017 年到 2019 年，该政策的执行情况不佳，大多数文件发布较晚（如果有的话）。此外，在渔业管理决策过程中考虑最多的科学建议往往在决策做出和传达之后才公开可用。尽管有促进透明度的政策，但公众对政策和决策的参与仍然有限，并且对作为建议基础的科学证据的共同理解也受到抑制。透明度正在成为现代渔业管理的基石原则，但在加拿大渔业管理中正在受到损害。