Yes, please. I have concerns that have been brought forward, given the importance of the role of fostering local knowledge and having people on the ground to conduct DFO work with the community and build trust with the communities they rely on. It seems problematic, to say the least, that this role would be eliminated without thorough consultation with the Dene first nations.
My other question, Ms. Gibbons, is around sea lice in open-net fish farms.
Building on my previous questions to the minister, we know that sea lice are highly problematic and especially dangerous to migrating juvenile salmon, which are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, we saw Cermaq open-net salmon farms in Bawden Point granted a near 50% biomass increase in 2022, despite evidence, which has been brought to my attention, that it may have been in breach of its licence conditions due to excessive sea lice.
Could you please answer whether Cermaq has ever breached licence conditions? Has any licence issued to Cermaq ever been amended to allow for higher lice limits, and has it ever been fined or otherwise sanctioned for breaching lice limits?