Fisheries Committee on March 9th, 2023

Evidence of meeting #56 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 population.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Ecosystem Impacts and Management of Pinniped Populations

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Bernard Vigneault Director General, Ecosystem Science Directorate, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Andrew Thomson Regional Director, Science, Pacific Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Jennifer Buie Acting Director General, Fisheries Resource Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Mike Hammill Scientist Emeritus, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Murdoch McAllister Associate Professor, University of British Columbia, As an Individual

Paul Lansbergen President, Fisheries Council of Canada

Yoanis Menge Co-Chief Executive Officer, Reconseal Inuksiuti

Ruben Komangapik Co-Chief Executive Officer, Reconseal Inuksiuti

4 p.m.

Regional Director, Science, Pacific Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Andrew Thomson

It is certainly true that, in trying to understand the multitude of factors that affect Pacific salmon populations, it is a complex picture, and we know that there are multiple factors that positively influence the returning populations of Pacific salmon. Certainly, that's one reason we conduct the diet composition studies for pinniped populations, but it's also why we invest time and energy into pathogen studies, habitat studies, monitoring the returns throughout the north Pacific climate change study, etc. We have such diverse Pacific salmon research programs to try to understand the multiple factors that affect their survival.

4 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

I'm not sure, Mr. Thomson, if you're the best person to answer these questions, but how does the research and funding that's being allocated on the coast differ? What impacts do those differences have on the capacity to take on science in the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic?

4 p.m.

Regional Director, Science, Pacific Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Andrew Thomson

I can certainly speak in terms of Pacific funding, and maybe my colleague, Dr. Vigneault, can speak to other funding. We have a very healthy research program within the fishery on the west coast. The research program for Pacific regions has approximately $100 million with about 540 researchers who are involved in all aspects of our scientific research program. It's a very significant program that allows us, thankfully, to investigate the myriad of factors, and the myriad of questions, that come to us to better understand our environment.

4 p.m.

Director General, Ecosystem Science Directorate, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Dr. Bernard Vigneault

I would add that the resource assessment, including the funding and expertise, is allocated nationally. It's a team that works collectively. We have the benefit of collaborating with a number of other stakeholders to help us in our endeavour. For example, the Arctic work was a recent survey that we're analyzing right now for walruses. It was done in collaboration with the Inuit communities.

There are harvesters in the Atlantic who are providing samples for our study, as well. As I mentioned earlier, we are taking steps in addressing more data regarding poor species. We're going to do the first ever harp seals assessment. The data collection is now complete. We'll do the assessment and publication later this year. We also make full use of new technologies available to us to advance the work we're doing.

4 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Building off the response that you just provided, Dr. Vigneault, I have a follow-up question. You just referenced an example around the collaboration with stakeholders and finding ways to build upon that. I was recently in Nunavut, and out on the waters with some indigenous local harvesters. They were talking about the importance of them being part of these decisions, and being part of providing vital information. They were talking about how when they're out on the water, they know, based on their relationship with the water, when they need to pull back, and when they can fish. They have a wealth of information and traditional knowledge to provide.

How are we working alongside indigenous harvesters, as well as all fish harvesters out on the water, and bridging that information throughout our process of deciding the science we're going to use in our decisions moving forward?

4 p.m.

Director General, Ecosystem Science Directorate, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Dr. Bernard Vigneault

Yes, there is ongoing collaboration, as I mentioned, especially in the Arctic. We collaborate for science and decision-making with the wildlife board. It helps us design the sampling, contributes to the analysis and then helps make a recommendation for the harvest decision.

Similarly, we invite indigenous traditional knowledge elders for collaboration when possible. Regarding the assessment, the Atlantic seal science test team recommended collaboration with harvesters and looking at opportunities in the collection of the sample, in addition to the analysis of the results of the stock assessment.