Evidence of meeting #17 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was capelin.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'm certainly not arguing that harp seals don't eat capelin. What I said was that, when we look at the major food sources harp seals rely on, I wouldn't say capelin was the mainstay of their diet.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
Just looking at the size of that capelin fishery there in zone 4RST, it's around 9,000 tonnes. That's not a lot of capelin compared with one million tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes consumed by harps alone, so I just want to make reference to that for the record.
How many other capelin fisheries along the Atlantic coast have a fixed opening date, or is it just this one?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'm sorry, but do you mean for capelin, sir?
Conservative
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Tony, can you talk about the capelin openings across the different areas?
Regional Director General, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes. In the rest of the gulf and on the northeast coast of Newfoundland, it is not fixed as such. It's variable and it depends on the availability and the condition of the capelin. There's a significant consultation with the industry to determine the opening dates in the various areas. It is not a fixed date. It is fixed in regulations, but it varies each year to reflect conditions.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
Thank you, Mr. Blanchard.
Is it possible to have that happen in a similar fashion, in consultation with these fishers, in the estuary of the St. Lawrence?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
That would be correct. Is that right, Sylvain?
Regional Director General, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
Okay. That just seems a little bit odd. I guess that's the reason for the meeting here today. This policy is so out of line with the rest of the capelin policy in Atlantic Canada.
I guess it's going to be too late this year. Do you think there's going to be a big change? You must have some information at this point. It's been quite a long time since you collected all that data. You must have some idea by now as to what the outcome of the assessment is going to be. You must have preliminary information.
Do you think there is going to be a massive cut in that capelin quota? If it's going to stay status quo, you could quickly make a decision and let that capelin fishery open.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
There are a few things on that. We collect samples over the summer, but then those samples have to be processed and that takes a couple of months. There's actually more to the process than one might think. Then there is analysis that has to be done as well. There is also other data on environmental factors, and we often don't get that data until later in the year. It does actually take a while for that science to get done.
Certainly, I don't think we, as a department, want to get out ahead of the science assessment or the advisory committee. We want to have all of the information before we come to a conclusion, so we very deliberately do not interfere. I as deputy do not interfere earlier in that process. We let it play out.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Mr. Small, you have actually gone a little bit over your time.
We'll now go to Ms. Sudds for five minutes or less.
Go ahead, please.
Liberal
Jenna Sudds Liberal Kanata—Carleton, ON
Thank you very much, Chair.
This is certainly a new topic for me, but interestingly enough I witnessed capelin on a trip with my family to Newfoundland a few years ago, so I do know what we're talking about.
I have a few questions. The minister mentioned in her remarks that the next 4RST stock assessment is scheduled to begin next week, I believe. Can you explain for me what new scientific information will be included in this stock assessment?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Sylvain, do you want to talk a little bit about our science in 4RST? That's only if you've anything to add.
Regional Director General, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I thank the member for her question.
Right now, the data are coming from the landing of the seiners, the boats that harvest capelin in Newfoundland and Labrador. They also take into account the shrimpers' bycatch when they are harvesting shrimp.
They look at the biological samples from commercial catches taken for the department's multi-species survey too. All that information is used to produce what we call the abundance indicator, which gives us an idea of fish stocks.
Liberal
Jenna Sudds Liberal Kanata—Carleton, ON
Excellent. Thank you for that.
Recognizing that stock assessments are obviously an important scientific element to fisheries management and ensuring that our fishing practices are sustainable, can you explain how stock assessment typically factors into establishing the total allowable catch?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Adam, I'll ask you to walk through the mechanics of that.
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Harbour Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Absolutely.
The process that we use to develop advice to provide to the minister to inform her decision-making would start for sure with the science advice. That forms the foundation of the advice. As well, the advice is supplemented with perspectives from indigenous groups, the fishing industry, provinces and others with an interest in the fishery, which we obtain through our advisory committee process. We'd also provide the minister with socio-economic analysis to inform her of the various potential impacts of her decision.
Those three key pieces, as well as indigenous knowledge when that is made available to us, are the basis for the advice that the department would provide the minister, framed in the context of our various policies under the sustainable fisheries framework, such as the forage fisheries policy and the bycatch policy, as well as the precautionary approach policy.
Liberal
Jenna Sudds Liberal Kanata—Carleton, ON
Excellent. Thank you for that.
I'm sure all of us today can agree that it's important that the voices of fish harvesters, the industry itself and coastal communities are part of this decision-making process and are listened to as we move forward.
Can you speak to the role of the capelin advisory committee and the importance of engaging with industry about any potential changes?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Tony, do you want to talk about the advisory committee?
Regional Director General, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Sure. It's a very important piece of the process. We get to hear directly from the stakeholders and get their perspectives as well, particularly on the advice that the science is providing but also on any of the management measures that are being considered to be changed or in place and what the implications are for them. It gives us their perspectives when we're considering requests such as the one that we expect to have discussed at the upcoming advisory committee.
Liberal
Jenna Sudds Liberal Kanata—Carleton, ON
Terrific. Thank you very much for that. I know it was discussed earlier what the composition of that advisory committee looks like as well, and I think it's so important that it properly reflects the industry.
I think I'm out of time so I'll cede but thank you very much for that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mrs. Sudds. It was close. There were about 14 seconds left, so I appreciate that.
We'll now go on to Mr. Arnold for five minutes or less, please.