Fisheries Committee on Feb. 13th, 2024

Evidence of meeting #98 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was enforcement.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Plans to prevent violence during the 2024 elver fishing season

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Annette Gibbons Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Doug Wentzell Regional Director General, Maritimes Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Adam Burns Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Brent Napier Acting Director General, Conservation and Protection, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Annette Gibbons

The figure you're referring to.... I'm not sure. I suspect it's beyond the landed value. As for the justification, the challenges of the incentives in this fishery for illegal poaching, managing it in an orderly way and the conservation of the stock and the safety of communities are what are behind that announcement.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Thank you, Mr. Arnold.

We now go to Mr. Kelloway for a question.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Mike Kelloway Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS

Thanks.

I actually have two very quick questions—

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

You get one.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Mike Kelloway Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS

I have one quick question relating to the strategy for this year. I know we don't want to telegraph our moves for those who are out there thinking about illegally fishing. At what point will people get a sense of what the strategy is on the water and on the land?

In terms of the second piece, when do you think the suite of offerings—in terms of solutions for, obviously, next year—will be communicated?

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Annette Gibbons

In terms of the strategy, the officers are out in communities on the rivers, and people see them. They get a little bit of a sense of that.

In general, I think there's a certain amount of information that's shared in the public interest, and then there's a certain amount of information that, from a risk-based enforcement perspective, is maintained within conservation and protection.

In terms of what will happen with the tool kit, we're moving really quickly. We hope to continue on quickly through the regulatory process and meet all of the requirements that we need to be able to bring in new regulations and to continue the conversations with the harvesters, licence-holders and indigenous communities on their interests.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Thank you, Mr. Kelloway. That concludes our questioning for today.

I again want to thank Mr. Burns, Ms. Gibbons, Mr. Wentzell and Mr. Napier for coming from the department each and every time we invite you and sharing your knowledge with the committee. I hope it adds to our final report.

On Thursday, we will commence our study of Yukon salmon, with witnesses.

The meeting is adjourned.