Fisheries committee  Thank you. Just in summary, we need integration within the federal government, a really close connection with the provincial government, particularly forestry, the meaningful involvement of communities and that commitment, as Frank has said, to resource the plan beyond just this budget year or beyond this government.

Fisheries committee  I think it's just the commitment that we're in this together. No one party has the knowledge or the resources to do this on their own. We need to commit in the long term to develop the plan, implement it, monitor its effectiveness and iterate as we need to.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. Again, this requires that integration. What we do see from time to time are those increased efforts and then some waning. Recently, the provincial government had a B.C. salmon strategy and a group that they were putting together. In taking a look at that, we took a look at some historical documents that showed agreements and protocols, for example, between the federal government and the provincial government in order for them to connect and work together on salmon.

Fisheries committee  Certainly, locally at the salmon round tables what we're seeing from DFO, as an example, is that they're bringing resource management, they're bringing the salmon enhancement program, they're bringing science—restoration biologists, stock assessment—they're bring all of those branches to the table where they're needed, and bringing in aquaculture as well.

Fisheries committee  I agree, and the best time other than yesterday is right now.

Fisheries committee  I think there are probably a number of things. Certainly in the work that's happening on the west coast those data gaps are being identified and filled. The folks at the table, as opposed to me as the facilitator, are really the ones to answer that for you. Some of the unknowns do come down to those marine conditions.

Fisheries committee  Some of those plans are in development. I think what we need to remember is that it really is a question of scale. You asked whether it is river by river, province-wide or coast-wide. It's all of those things. There is work that has to happen at a watershed level. There's work that has to be done at a subregional or sound level.

Fisheries committee  We have terms of reference, if you will, and the table of contents is being developed. The COSEWIC listing came out just in November, so that starts a two-year clock ticking. That group is working on that integrated plan for the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much for the question, Mr. Johns. I think, from an intangible standpoint, from the federal we need that commitment that's communicated throughout government to improve their participation, foster development and remove any barriers that are there for collaboration.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much for the question. We have seen quite a level of interest in the program here on the west coast. In part, that's because it recognizes indigenous and local knowledge and really bringing that information to the table. Yes, it does contribute to that cultural collaboration, because it has people who are local to an area being part of that solution.

Fisheries committee  Yes, absolutely, and having all of those ways of seeing, if you will, is part of that solution. You mentioned that idea of enforcement. When the research is collaborative and when the solution and the plan are collaborative, people have a greater sense of buy-in. With that, there is greater following of a plan, with less need for that enforcement.

Fisheries committee  Do you mean why it is not happening in other areas?

Fisheries committee  I think there are probably a few. One of them, which you already mentioned, is that concept of a siloed approach. It's understood that government is big, but we are seeing evidence of that kind of working between departments and the branches of DFO, so it's taken a little bit of time but it is coming forward.

Fisheries committee  Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members, for this opportunity to address you today. My name is Tawney Lem, and I'm the executive director of West Coast Aquatic, a not-for-profit organization committed to increasing collaboration in natural resource management.