Fisheries committee  We need to run experimental projects to answer that question properly. The advice we'll provide to our minister is that the science community is going to run a series of experiments on that very issue. We're going to find out what they say. We're going to generate our best scient

Fisheries committee  The first part of the answer to that question has to be whether or not there will be future stock assessment programs. Let's assume that we jump over that question, and that's a big assumption. Part of what we're working on with the community is to design monitoring systems to re

Fisheries committee  You're talking about the Pacific Ocean?

Fisheries committee  It's clear that changes in ocean conditions are slower and less predominant in the Pacific Ocean than in the Atlantic. We don't know why. The range of variation in conditions in the Pacific, with the exception of the Blob, is not as wide. Up and down the coast in British Columbia

Fisheries committee  Quick suggestions. I know you have time issues. What happens to these animals when they go to sea? The short answer is we don't know enough about that. There are some technology solutions and so on that need to be in place. But when they leave their streams, their bays, and so

Fisheries committee  We have a couple. One is it is clear we know for sure temperature in the ocean is changing, both at the surface and below the surface; both at depth and in a variety of areas. We also know that currents and tidal patterns are changing on all three oceans. We are fairly confiden

Fisheries committee  Yes.

Fisheries committee  There are a couple of things. The reason I answered yes so quickly is that it's clear we need further investigation into this issue. That's just indisputable. When I say “we”, it's not just the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, it's the ocean science community more broadly. We

Fisheries committee  I'll preface my remarks by saying the Committee for Atlantic Salmon Tomorrow has put in a huge amount of effort already, as you've pointed out, with private funds and interests to advance salmon conservation. The department is extremely appreciative of that and looks forward to c

Fisheries committee  The Atlantic salmon, as you say, is assessed in a number of different ways, depending on where it's found. Think of the Bay of Fundy; think of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. If we see a continued decline in any of the stocks that will move—depending on the way you look at it, sir—up t

Fisheries committee  Some of the technology didn't work, fundamentally. You describe very well the nature of the program, how it was supposed to work, and so on. It sounds as though I'm being flippant, but please don't take it that way, but some of the smolts didn't behave as they were supposed to.

Fisheries committee  Like my colleague said earlier, I would say yes. You're quite right. There has been a diminishment in the program. I think it's possible that there will be further investments in the science program in the department, and obviously those would be welcome.

Fisheries committee  It does.

Fisheries committee  There are a number of areas where our research is targeting that broad geographic area that some people call the Salish Sea. You can use whatever geographic boundary you like. Essentially, I would describe it as a focal point of our science program that tends to fall in three ma

Fisheries committee  I guess I'd say a couple of things in response to that. First, I would echo Kevin Stringer's comment to the effect that, just to be clear, there's nothing in the supplementary (C)s that addresses those issues materially, if there's any question about how that links. With respec