Fisheries committee  Yes. I will also admit that I'm not an expert in this particular area, but I do know that over the years it was a significant issue for Yukon River chinook. The practices improved. There were observers. There were various things that they did to ensure that those catches were minimized.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, MP Hanley. I appreciate the question. Absolutely, and one of the things we realize.... I happen to be in Vancouver right now at the Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations for another chapter, so I have the unique advantage of being able to see these various panels and fisheries along the west coast.

Fisheries committee  It's purely numbers. In fact, they use the word “pieces” quite often. It's the number of pieces of salmon, so that's the essential metric. We started seeing size declines at the headwaters in particular. Large fish were disappearing. That, of course, is a productivity issue: Less fecund fish have fewer eggs.

Fisheries committee  That's correct. We are reporting on size, sex ratios and various other things now, and age class. We've always reported on age class, but yes, the actual metric for the treaty is the number of fish.

Fisheries committee  Thank you. I'll predict that a lot of us will have similar thoughts. I'll focus on two quickly. I think Elizabeth MacDonald mentioned the physiological stress of rising water temperatures, which is resulting in a lot of prespawn mortality. Fish just aren't making it where they used to go.

Fisheries committee  Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to address this esteemed committee today. My name is Dennis Zimmermann. I reside at Whitehorse, Yukon, on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch'än Council. There are various hats I wear related to salmon.