Fisheries Committee on June 9th, 2022

Evidence of meeting #27 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 shrimp.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Science at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans

MPs speaking

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Also speaking

Phil Morlock Director, Government Affairs, Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association

Eda Roussel Fisheries Advisor, Association des crevettiers acadiens du Golfe

Clerk of the Committee Ms. Tina Miller

Martin Mallet Executive Director, Maritime Fishermen's Union

Dave Brown Public Fishery Alliance

Christopher J. Bos President, South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition

Martin Paish Director, Business Development, Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia

Jean Lanteigne Director General, Fédération régionale acadienne des pêcheurs professionnels

Owen Bird Executive Director, Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Yes.

Mr. Chair, I believe you forgot me in the last round of questioning.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

I'm sorry. I thought we were done.

You have two and a half minutes.

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

I'm sorry, everyone. We thought we were out of here.

My question is for Ms. Roussel, from the Association des crevettiers acadiens du Golfe.

You've shared a lot of very important information with us. What are the key points that need to be raised with the government?

1:10 p.m.

Fisheries Advisor, Association des crevettiers acadiens du Golfe

Eda Roussel

When it comes to shrimp, species-specific research needs to be done to determine the impact of rockfish predation on shrimp. We know the impact of seal predation on the cod fishery. There has been a cod moratorium for over 20 years and our fishers are afraid shrimp will suffer the same fate.

It's quite important to have specific research surveys on shrimp because the data does not corroborate what our fishers are saying. Rockfish have a significant impact on shrimp, so that needs to be the priority. We need to do more research on shrimp and on how rockfish are affecting shrimp stocks.

June 9th, 2022 / 1:10 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Thank you very much.

For my next question, I will ask Mr. Brown a bit more about the flooding we saw happen in British Columbia last year.

The minister indicated that the PSSI may be able to help in the wake of last year's flooding, but didn't point to any specific initiatives that would be used. As climate change gets worse, with people expecting more flooding, do you feel DFO needs to do more to address these concerns through the PSSI or other funding sources?

1:10 p.m.

Public Fishery Alliance

Dave Brown

Yes, it's definitely a concern.

One thing I want to bring attention to is the devastation currently going on at Strawberry Island and Nicomen Slough. It's one more example of the department's failure to protect critical salmon habitat. Chinook and Harrison sockeye rear there. If we want salmon for our future, we need to look out for these areas and fully enforce the existing habitat protection laws on the books.

I know that doesn't directly answer your question, but with the flooding and impacts, to see this kind of thing happen is significant and concerning.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Thank you, Ms. Barron.

That concludes our rounds of questioning for today.

Again, I thank our witnesses for appearing, virtually or in person, and for sharing their knowledge with the committee as we try to do a report on this very important topic.

I want to say thank you to everybody involved: the analysts, clerk and translators.

I wish everybody a good day. We will be back on Tuesday with science at DFO again. I will see you then. Take care.