Fisheries Committee on March 14th, 2012

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Fredericton, NB]

First of all, aquaculture is becoming a much larger portion of our overall fishery, and that's worldwide. About 50% of the fish now are coming from aquaculture, so it is important. It's a safe, sustainable, growing industry. There are challenges. There are a number of them, as we've seen on the east coast with some issues around ISA and sea lice. We're developing programs jointly with the provinces to address this. Of course we had about a $980,000 investment, or something of that nature, in British Columbia, for a closed containment site, a portion of it coming from DFO. So we want to understand those issues as well.

I think there are challenges around it all. Whether it can be cost effective doing it in a closed containment site and whether we can be competitive with the Chiles and the Norways of the world, we don't know. I think it's important that we take a look at it.

I appreciate the work you're doing on it as a committee. It's very important work.

[Mike Allen, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Minister, I'll ask two last questions, and these are mostly local and they involve the wild Atlantic salmon in two of our major river systems in New Brunswick, one being the Miramichi and one being the Saint John River system.

As you are aware, we have invasive smallmouth bass in Miramichi Lake, which is in my riding, but we also have the situation—and we had a chance to see this last year at the Tobique Narrows Dam—where a few of the salmon were caught in the fish ladder while going up over the dam. Can you provide an update to myself or the committee on how we're doing on that invasive species situation on Miramichi Lake? What is the current status on the discussions with N.B. Power and other utilities on downstream smolt bypass at these hydro dams?

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Fredericton, NB]

My understanding on the smallmouth bass issue in Miramichi Lake, and that's a worrisome issue, is that we're using a process to fish them out. I think it's been quite successful. I'll let Mr. Balfour address that in a moment.

On the N.B. Power issue and the smolt, it's my understanding they've had recent meetings and it's moving along very well with an MOU to address the concerns, and that N.B. Power seems to be quite interested in that process, moving forward.

Perhaps Mr. Balfour would have some more specifics.

[David Balfour]

The project in terms of the removal of smallmouth bass is showing good promise. The catch rates in the second year of that project have reduced, and that's indicative of a reduction of production. There's another year to run on that project. We'll be assessing the results of the project after the third year and determining the next steps then. But we seem to be on track in terms of seeing a reduction in the population of smallmouth bass in that area.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you very much.

Mr. MacAulay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Minister, of course the big concern we have—and you tell us you're discussing it, looking at it, or thinking about it—is the owner-operator policy. What concerns a lot of the people I represent.... And I'm not against these people either. For example, Bill Barry wrote a letter in the St. John's Telegram indicating how wonderful, important, and necessary this change in policy was.

Have you had discussions with these groups or other groups like that?

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Fredericton, NB]

Certainly.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Good.

Have you had discussions with fisheries groups? I've talked to 30-some fisheries groups across Canada, and not one of them.... And I'm not saying you're going to do it. I pray to God that you do not. I also wonder, if it's right to ask, what view your department has on owner-operator policy. Does that have any influence on what takes place?

If you decide to make this move, will you allow this committee to travel through Atlantic Canada and talk to fisheries groups? Would you advise that? I am concerned about the groups you have talked to. I'm not saying you didn't, but have you talked to fisheries organizations, or can you give us a fisheries organization that would support this? If they do not support it, do you believe that will kill it? Are the large corporations deciding what's going to take place? I beg of you, because of what will happen where I live and the people I represent, it's so vitally important that if this is removed a large portion of it will be gone.

I would like to leave those questions with you. I know that you care. Please make the decision yourself and think of the human beings who will be hurt so much if you take it away from them.

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Fredericton, NB]

You can put a lot of questions into one question. Thank you.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Well, I just want one good answer.

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Fredericton, NB]

Who's going to judge the answer?

[An hon. member]

The audience.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

They're our judges.

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Fredericton, NB]

I've talked to multiple organizations across the country about the fishery and their concerns about the fishery overall. Even the MFU is saying there are changes that need to be made. They'll let us know what they're looking at.

Are they in support of fleet separation? They're not. A number of organizations aren't. But it's part of the whole debate. It's part of getting people interested, talking, and understanding.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

They're interested.

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Fredericton, NB]

Absolutely, and it's a great thing. If we can have an honest, open dialogue and hear back from people on their concerns, what they'd like to see our fishery look like in the future, how we can be sustainable, and how we can maintain the vitality of our small coastal communities, that is the kind of information we need to have for our long-term plan on fisheries. That's what it's about. No preconceived ideas—

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

There's nobody who doesn't want to preconceive anything more than I don't want to. It's a horrible thought that this would happen.

But do you agree that the committee should travel?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Mr. MacAulay, I have to interrupt you there. As per the standing rules, the bells are ringing at this time. You've exceeded your time limit.

Mr. Minister, before we adjourn I want to thank you and your officials, on behalf of the entire committee, for appearing today and being so open in our discussion. We really appreciate it and we look forward to seeing you again before the committee.

Thank you very much.

The meeting is adjourned.