Our enforcement—
Evidence of meeting #98 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 enforcement.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #98 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 enforcement.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Has it been able to stop it? Give me a yes or no.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
From a binary perspective, there is an illegal harvest. It's not all, certainly, but we believe our enforcement efforts—
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
It hasn't been able to stop the illegal harvest, then.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We don't stop it all, but we stop some—absolutely.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Okay. There is an illegal harvest.
Why does there continue to be an illegal harvest?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
As we've noted, the incentives to poach in this area are very high, and the enforcement of it is extremely difficult. We certainly try. We have lots of resources on it, and we've increased the resources to try to make sure that we're doing everything we can.
However, because of the number of rivers and the fact that there's a big payoff if they can—
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Thank you.
The C and P officers enforce fisheries that are regulated under the auspices of the Fisheries Act. Is that correct?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Do you mean the conservation and protection officers?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
They are subject to it, yes.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
They monitor and enforce fisheries authorized under the Fisheries Act.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Are there any other types of authorizations under which harvesters could be operating?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'm not sure I understand your question.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Are there any other types of authorizations outside of the Fisheries Act that could allow the harvest of elvers?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The Fisheries Act is the enabling legislation, so....
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
There are no other agreements that would enable the harvest of elvers.
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It's the Fisheries Act that provides the authority. We issue licences pursuant to the Fisheries Act. That is the vehicle for authorizing fisheries.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Are there elvers being harvested under any other auspices, rights-based harvests or any other activity?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
No, not to my knowledge, sir. It would all be under the licences under the Fisheries Act. Indigenous fishing is under communal commercial licences under the Fisheries Act.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
I think I'll turn my remaining 45 seconds to Mr. Perkins.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
I have a quick question in the short time. If I understand your logic, Deputy, by taking all the legal elvers off, any elvers you find are illegal and, therefore, your enforcement of that will stop the poaching. Is that the perverse logic you guys have?
Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It will certainly not stop all poaching, but we expect that it will provide clarity and a deterrent for illegal poaching in general—yes.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Perkins.
We'll go to Mr. Cormier for five minutes or less, please.