Evidence of meeting #20 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was area.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Do you believe that fishers should be involved in that process, that they should have input into the process if an NMCA is going to go ahead?
Vice-Chair for Science, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Commission on Protected Areas, As an Individual
Absolutely.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Based on your research, your background in this and your understanding, how important is the consultation process, not only with the fishers but with all the surrounding communities, to the socio-economic impact? How important is that from your research, from what you found and from what you think?
Vice-Chair for Science, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Commission on Protected Areas, As an Individual
It's highly important. I guess, in my response, I'd go back to this question: Are we managing fisheries or managing an ocean? I think the answer is that we're managing an ocean. The fisheries are a really important part of that ocean management, but it's not the whole package. You have to think about a full range of interests, and there's a full range of interests, from people globally and in Canada, in having healthy oceans.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
I'll go back to your last discussion and your answer about the spillover in a no-take zone.
Vice-Chair for Science, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Commission on Protected Areas, As an Individual
Yes.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Would you say that the spillover from a no-take zone would be able to help sustain a fishery that's not in an MPA?
Vice-Chair for Science, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Commission on Protected Areas, As an Individual
It would help sustain the fishery outside the marine protected area, yes.
I brought the literature review on spillover, which you can all read. I'll leave it with the clerk. The science is getting clearer and clearer on it. Some people think you could protect half the ocean and catch more fish. There's a paper in Science that makes that argument. Then you get into where and how far you have to travel, and all of those other considerations, which aren't trivial. They're also important.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Mel Arnold
Thank you, Dr. Woodley.
That ends our rounds of questioning for today.
I'd like to thank the witnesses for their time today. Their testimony will help us in our work to formulate recommendations to the government on this study.
Is it the will of the committee to adjourn?