Evidence of meeting #143 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mussels.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Could the others comment as well on the same question that was posed, the two groups, Saskatchewan as well, the municipal ones, the irrigation systems?
President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities
To my knowledge, no funding was provided.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
You never had funding. I just want to be clear on that. It's not a case where you were receiving funding and then lost it.
More from a curiosity factor, because there have been a number of suggestions where float planes could be a significant problem in transferring invasive species and I can see that, how would you put in place a treatment regime?
I can understand it from vessels, where they come out of the water and you have the opportunity to disinfect. This is a practice that is carried on in the agricultural industry to prevent the transport. However, in float planes, how would you envision a treatment regime for dealing with invasive species?
Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council
One possibility that could be looked into is the use of canines. Here in B.C., in our provincial watercraft inspection program run by the Conservation Officer Service, they have two canines that are trained to smell larvae. My understanding is that they can smell the adult form as well as the larval form.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
The aircraft would have already landed in a water system and, therefore, would contaminate by the time you would know. Would I be correct in assuming that?
Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council
An inspection would need to take place prior to departure. If it's leaving an infested area, that would be inspected.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
That's interesting.
I want to go to Ms. Monfette and follow up on my colleague's question. You stated that there is no established population of Asian carp in the Great Lakes, and again, I was under the impression that there was.
What's your definition of an “established” population?
Coordinator, Invading Species Awareness Program, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
My understanding is that it would be a fish that was born in the Great Lakes and then reproduced in the Great Lakes.
Coordinator, Invading Species Awareness Program, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
There are tributaries on the U.S. side that they are dealing with, but in Canadian waters we have no established population in the Great Lakes.
Coordinator, Invading Species Awareness Program, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
There have been adult fish found in Canadian waters. These are adult fish. Their source is unknown.
Strategic Partnerships, Canadian Council on Invasive Species
I would just add to my colleague's comment.
Asian carp are well established in systems in the United States, and perhaps that's what people might be thinking of. The effort is to ensure that those Asian carp that are well established in the United States do not get into the Great Lakes.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Mr. DeMille, is the current regime that is in place by DFO effective in achieving that goal?
Manager, Fish and Wildlife Services, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Until there's a reproducing population established, or an established population in the Great Lakes, we have to think what we're doing is successful. Because for the established populations are on the U.S. side, the biggest thing is about keeping them out.
A lot of that right now is happening in the Chicago-area waterway system, which is outside our jurisdiction. Although there are binational conversations, a lot of that conversation is happening on the U.S. side. We're just involved in those conversations, rather than being the major players and decision-makers on what happens. That's talking about physical barriers and things that would disrupt shipping and other industries, and that's why the conversations continue to go on.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Your time is up, sir. I'm sorry about that.
Now we go to Mr. Arnold for five minutes or less, please.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses.
Mr. Chair, we've heard a number of times reference to the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development's spring report on aquatic invasive species. I'd ask that we have that report entered as evidence or information for this study. I think it's very relevant to what we're doing. I don't know whether you need a formal motion for this or whether the clerks can simply take that suggestion so that it's on the record that we have it included there. Thank you.
The threat seems to get bigger everywhere we go. Prevention seems to be the biggest challenge—I think that's very clear. I haven't heard too much about rapid response systems.
Mr. McLean, Mr. DeMille, or anyone from the western provinces as well, have you seen anything being developed as far as rapid response programs are concerned?
Manager, Fish and Wildlife Services, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Do you want to talk a little about the rapid response related to Asian carp? It's probably the most relevant.
Coordinator, Invading Species Awareness Program, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Certainly.
Through DFO and even binational collaboration, there are efforts in place to respond to detection. I can speak specifically to the system we have in place in partnership with DFO. It is that through our reporting tools we facilitate early detection. If a suspect report comes in to our staff, we inform DFO. It quickly moves through the protocol. If it is confirmed as a fish, then DFO responds in order to ensure that this fish is captured, if it is in that water body. I think Matt made reference to some successes that we have had as a result.
These reports can come in through anyone on the ground, and DFO is ready to respond.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
These are reports of adult or mature fish, not of something as small as microscopic, such as the larvae from zebra and quagga mussels. Has anyone heard anything of a response plan for that type of invasion?
Ms. Redelback.
Executive Director, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association
I can just comment that Alberta's Ministry of Environment and Parks is currently working on some rapid response plans for invasive mussel species in Alberta water bodies. That is in process right now.
Program Manager, Shuswap Watershed Council
I'm also aware that the Province of B.C. has a rapid response plan as well. I am not familiar with the details of it, but they have a protocol in place that should there be a detection of zebra or quagga mussels in one water body in B.C., there are protocols in place to try to prevent further spread across the province.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Okay.
That, however, is a provincial program as far as you know.