Evidence of meeting #99 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 chinook.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
I'll turn now to Ms. Mayes.
What do you see as the biggest risk to the health of the Yukon salmon?
3:50 p.m.
Manager, Operations & Fish and Wildlife I Heritage, Lands and Resources, Kwanlin Dün First Nation
I don't see one biggest risk. I see multiple risks.
Of course, we're facing climate change, and with the warming waters and the distance, the size of the fish that are coming back are not the same as they used to be, therefore they are not producing the number of eggs that they have, historically. We are in the process of needing more fish to get to the spawning grounds.
Another one that I really feel we need to address is the number of hatchery fish from pink and chum that are being released into the Bering Sea and the ocean. The trawlers are a huge component of that.
Then, of course, on the Canadian side they are facing—because it's the longest migration—the barrier of the Whitehorse Rapids generating station or hydro plant, which has an inefficient ladder. They're also facing juvenile mortality on the out-migration.
There's not just one. There are multiple. I'm sorry that I couldn't give you one.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
That's very interesting, because you led into what was going to be one of my next questions for some of you, as to what condition these fish are in when they do return to spawn. You just said they're smaller. Do you believe that's an indication that they have less food available, or is it something that's happened through the genetics of the larger fish being harvested through various means and affecting the gene pool?
3:55 p.m.
Manager, Operations & Fish and Wildlife I Heritage, Lands and Resources, Kwanlin Dün First Nation
There have been some studies on that and the size of the fish. The large ones, back when there was fishing, were the ones that were taken.
I go back to the traditional knowledge side of it. The indigenous tribes along the Alaska side of the Yukon River would say that they knew exactly when they had Canadian-origin fish because of the size of the fish. They said they were oilier, heavier and relatively larger in size, and they were harvested first. The genetics, of course, are impacted by that. Over the years, what we're getting through is more of a torpedo-shaped salmon now and of course that means we need more of them on the spawning grounds in order to get their numbers back up.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Chief Tom, can I ask you to basically answer the same question? In what condition are the fish that you're seeing returning in your area, and why do you think that might be?
3:55 p.m.
Chief, Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
There are many reports of the fish looking different, as we've heard. They're smaller and have more scars and softer meat, and there's just an all around difference. When we get them to prepare them, we will hear the grandmas say, “The fish looks different.”
As we heard, there are many different factors playing into this. We know that the environment in which they need to survive is suffering somehow, and this is an indication of what is happening. To pinpoint it, we really don't know.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Arnold.
We now go to Mr. Hanley for six minutes or less, please.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT
Thank you very much, and thanks to the three of you for being here.
I also thank all the committee members who have supported making this study finally happen. I'm thrilled that we're able to have this discussion on such a critical issue, and I hope that, over the next few meetings with witnesses, all of us will not only understand why this is a critical issue, not just for Yukon but for North America, but also reflect on the concrete steps that can be taken to address this situation.
Chief Tom, to start with you, in your opening comments you described yourself as a mother. I know you have a family, of whom you're very proud, and you have a community right in the middle of Yukon—the hub of the Yukon, as they say—Carmacks, Yukon, in a very beautiful location. However, I wonder if you can describe the impact on your community and family from the state of chinook salmon, including the fish camps and the tradition around the fish camps.
3:55 p.m.
Chief, Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
Our families and our community are in what I call a collective trauma state. It's a heart wound. It's a soul wound. It's affecting everything that we are. We are Little Salmon Carmacks people. Without salmon, where are we going to go? We've been infiltrated by the gold rush and residential schools, and we have a lot of things that have already been taken from us and lost. At this point, the culture, which is the epitome of our whole nation, is also being lost, and that's the salmon.
There are so many things that play into the fish camp, and at this point our fish camps are left empty—and you can see it all down the Yukon River. This has been happening for very many years, and it's absolutely devastating to our people. Our children, at Christmastime, made a Santa Claus, and they were asked to ask Santa what they would like. In that Santa Claus's arms was a huge Chinook salmon, so all of those children are so feeling that devastation that they wrote Santa and asked for the salmon to come back. Our elders, who are used to the vitamin D and all these wonderful omegas that come from it, they're feeling it in their bones. They just want to have the salmon so badly. Everybody is trying to respect that we can't do this right now, and we're taught to leave it alone. It's “dooli” for us, so it's heartbreaking to see our community and our people in such a devastating loss.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT
Chief Tom, as a follow-up question, you described that in a heart-rending way, but why should this be an important issue for Canadians to know about and to reflect upon? Why is this important for Canada, not just your community or Yukon?
4 p.m.
Chief, Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
We're all Canadians. We all love our home on native lands. We are the true north, strong and free. We love hiking, biking, canoeing, skidooing and skating. We love our environment. It's what makes us Canadians. We love the majestic mountains. We love the clear waters.
Currently Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation has an urgent matter in our backyard. We have an old abandoned mine, the BYG mine, and there's a threat that it could be leaking or bursting with freshet. There are so many horrible and deadly contaminants in there that would go into Dome Creek, the White River and the Yukon River, the very ecosystem that is already suffering in terms of the salmon. These issues are huge. It's ecocide. This is the death of an environment. The salmon are only giving us an indication and a message for all of our environment that we love as Canadians, and that is why it is important. These things are happening to us right now. We need to listen to the messages.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT
Thank you so much.
I have a little bit of time left, so, Brandy, I wonder if you'd be able to describe some of the key activities that Kwanlin Dün First Nation is undertaking when you're looking at salmon restoration?
4 p.m.
Manager, Operations & Fish and Wildlife I Heritage, Lands and Resources, Kwanlin Dün First Nation
Kwanlin Dün has taken on a number of initiatives over the years. DFO doesn't have part of Stephanie's recollection in its files, but Kwanlin Dün has a Michie Creek salmon monitoring restoration project that we've had for over 24 years. That has been one of the longest runs in the world where the salmon go to spawn. That is one where we've been doing the restoration project. We keep that creek open. We've been moving barriers. We count the redds. We do water temperature quality, water quality. We do a number of initiatives on that one. We've been doing that for a while.
We also have the Takhini River sonar project, which is where we're looking at what the numbers are coming to. The Takhini is a tributary to the Yukon River and is a big salmon river. It's very important to us to look at what kinds of numbers are coming back up there, so we can look at restoration efforts in that system.
Besides all the other formal—
4 p.m.
Liberal
4 p.m.
Manager, Operations & Fish and Wildlife I Heritage, Lands and Resources, Kwanlin Dün First Nation
Okay, yes, and then there are chinooks.
4 p.m.
Liberal
4 p.m.
Manager, Operations & Fish and Wildlife I Heritage, Lands and Resources, Kwanlin Dün First Nation
Okay.
4 p.m.
Liberal
4 p.m.
Bloc
Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
With all due respect for the issue we're studying today, I have to use my speaking time to discuss my motion. It's an urgent matter, so I have to spend my six minutes on it.
I also have an announcement. Today, the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously adopted a motion to inform the federal government that it is concerned about quota allocations being too low, about the possible disappearance of the shrimp fishery, and about the dangers to which shrimp fishers in our part of Quebec are exposed.
As I said, this motion was passed unanimously just a few hours ago. I would like us to discuss the importance of undertaking two studies on how DFO approaches this and the criteria it uses to make decisions about the lives and livelihoods of shrimp fishers in Quebec, decisions that affect every one of their communities.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Can we deal with that at the end? We have a couple of motions. You have four minutes.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
I think we can do that. This is my speaking time, and I can use it for this.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
I think it'll be quick.
May I read my motion?
February 15th, 2024 / 4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Caroline Desbiens Bloc Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
Given the significant decline in shrimp biomass, the low redfish allocation for shrimp harvesters, the possible disappearance of the shrimp industry and the impact on fishers, crew and processing plant owners and employees, as well as coastal communities and businesses; and, given the urgency, I move:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of the scales used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to set redfish quotas, in particular those announced by the Minister on January 26, 2024, in order to assess the extent of their effects on the shrimp fishing industry; that the committee allocate at least two meetings to conduct this study; that the February 27 meeting be allocated to hear from the Minister and senior DFO officials so they can answer the committee’s questions for two hours, and that the February 29 meeting be allocated to hear from any witnesses the committee deems necessary; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.