In the last two years, I'm not 100% sure, but I know that right now we have about 1,500 people working in that section in our department, doing all kinds of good science work. Our science budget has remained fairly constant over the last number of years. What we've done is ensure that we focus on our science priorities and that we get our priorities completed.
If I may, I'd like to share some examples, because DFO science does such good work, and I want the committee to be aware of some of the work that is being done right now.
We're working to examine how cold ocean conditions impact snow crab development off Newfoundland and Labrador in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and in the eastern Bering Sea.
We also have a multi-year project whereby we're identifying and quantifying a suite of microbes that affect B.C. salmon and their effect in the interplay between wild and cultured salmon.
Our scientists are also, on the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, working with the local fishermen's union in an aquaculture company to determine whether there are any changes to the benthic bottom environment as a result of establishing an aquaculture farm site.
We are also doing science to inform hydro-electric development; we're doing science on the narwhal summering aggregation; we're doing science, which we talked about, on the Asian carp; we're also doing science on the behaviour of oil spills in the marine environment.
We're also doing science, with small craft harbours on the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador on meeting the challenge of climate change. What they're doing is exploring the potential use of floating breakwaters as a cost-effective option for minimizing the damage that could happen from severe winter storms.