Evidence of meeting #31 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was management.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll make it quick, but I'll make it to all three, if they can answer quickly.
Would you say co-operation and collaboration among all parties—indigenous, non-indigenous, commercial fishers, recreational fishers—is one of the key components to recovering our wild Pacific salmon stocks?
Mr. Farrell, you can go first.
Professor, Tier I Canada Research Chair in Fish Physiology, Conservation & Culture, University of British Columbia, As an Individual
Absolutely, yes. Without it the polemics that exist in British Columbia right now will never get anywhere near resolved.
Director General, Fédération québécoise pour le saumon atlantique
I agree completely. It's important to have common conservation objectives and then to move slowly forward to find sustainable solutions for everyone.
Tlowitsis First Nation
I think it would be really good to have this communication among all the user groups, but getting it done will be the good question. That would be like herding cats, because everybody has made enemies out of each other. The commercial fishermen don't like recreation fishermen, and so forth.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Arnold.
On the Liberal side it was supposed to be Mr. Morrissey, so....
Mr. Hardie?
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Oh, I always have a question ready.
Dr. Farrell, on hatcheries, will you be able to, not necessarily verbally but perhaps in a follow-up item, give us some advice on what would constitute a good strategy for hatcheries in the process of either rebuilding or re-establishing salmon populations?
Professor, Tier I Canada Research Chair in Fish Physiology, Conservation & Culture, University of British Columbia, As an Individual
Yes. This is a fantastic question that I think was just let slip in DFO. A question was asked about the difference between wild Pacific salmon and Atlantic salmon that are cultured. Yes, “domestication” is the key word. What we're doing with our hatcheries is treating them like domesticated salmon, and then we ask them to go out in the real world.
I work with the Norwegian industry to exercise and train hatchery salmon so they do better when they get out in the ocean. Thinking about the real-life situation of a salmon before you release it and get it a bit more prepared for life out in the real world would be fantastic for hatcheries.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Hardie.
We'll now go to Mr. Trudel for a very short question, please.
Bloc
Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My question is for Ms. Bergeron.
You have spoken at length about the Quebec model, and told us how well it was working. Among other things, you discussed the ZEC model.
What could the rest of Canada and the other provinces learn from Quebec? Would it be possible to adapt the ZEC model to address the Pacific salmon problem in British Columbia?
Director General, Fédération québécoise pour le saumon atlantique
Yes, it could certainly serve as a model that might be of interest. It would be possible to explore the model and everything that goes along with it, from regulation and the various types of agreements between different organizations, and adapt it to what is happening to Pacific salmon in British Columbia. The adaptation could be carried out via different arrangements with the indigenous communities or through different types of organizations that could be established.
It's also important within the network to focus on good governance. Various citizens can contribute a great deal to the decision-making and priority setting. The common objective then becomes conservation of wildlife species and the environment, and achieving sustainable development for the regions.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Trudel.
I noticed that Mr. MacGregor, the member for Cowichan—Malahat—Langford is in to replace Mr. Johns.
I'll give you a chance for a brief question if you want, and hopefully we'll get a brief answer.
You can make Mr. Johns proud by doing that.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Thank you so much, Chair, and thank you for your indulgence.
Professor Farrell, I'll direct my one question to you.
I live right near the mighty Cowichan River here on Vancouver Island, a river we're all very proud of. My community is investing substantial dollars, as is the federal government, in building up a weir at the lake, so we can hold more lake supply back and have better environmental flows over the very dry and hot July, August and September months.
In terms of the $647 million allocated to save wild salmon in the budget, what are some of your top priorities? What do you think of projects like building up weirs so we can have those better environmental flows, so salmon that are migrating up the river during those months have a better chance of survivability?
Professor, Tier I Canada Research Chair in Fish Physiology, Conservation & Culture, University of British Columbia, As an Individual
I think what you're doing is now speaking about local solutions, looking on the ground and seeing what the local problems are.
The Cowichan River system is phenomenal. The fish that are released to go out to the ocean are just decimated on the way out. Brian Riddell and I sat down and looked at the data, and it was like, “Oh my goodness, don't let all the fish out in one go. Don't create a feeding frenzy.”
I think that there will be different solutions. I think it's empowering local people to find out what the problems are and the best way to find those solutions.
We all have to live and we have to have an economy, but I think there's a five-letter word that resonates with probably everybody here, and that is “pride”. If you can make local communities proud of what's going on and be part of it, you can effect major change.
If weirs work for you, great.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. MacGregor. I know Gord would be very proud of that question and the answer.
I want to say a big thank you to our witnesses today for enlightening us with their knowledge as we're cluing up this study on the state of the Pacific salmon.
I will allow the witnesses to leave.
Everybody will switch over to go to the in camera session, and we'll see everybody back in committee as quickly as possible. We'll all leave and sign back in again.
Thank you, everyone.
Professor, Tier I Canada Research Chair in Fish Physiology, Conservation & Culture, University of British Columbia, As an Individual
May I just ask one question? If we want to send written information in, to whom do we send that?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
You can get that information from the clerk, or it's [email protected] .
Professor, Tier I Canada Research Chair in Fish Physiology, Conservation & Culture, University of British Columbia, As an Individual
Okay. Thank you very much.
Thank you, everyone