Thank you, Dr. Ricciardi.
Dr. Johnson, according to the 2008 report from the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans failed to assess the socio-economic risks posed by aquatic invasive species in order to estimate the overall risks. The report stated that without further analysis, the department lacked key information necessary to set priorities or establish risk-based objectives to reducing the harm caused by aquatic invasive species.
I have a two-part question, in the thirty seconds that we have left. In your opinion, has DFO provided adequate socio-economic risk assessment of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin? And how important is such an assessment to your work and to Canada's ability to reduce harm by invasive aquatic species? And perhaps you could add how this could best be remedied.