Fisheries Committee on Feb. 25th, 2026

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

I have no problem with sending the letter again, but I don't think this study was started in November. On what date was this study started?

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

I think it was the second meeting we had in January, so it was the last week of January. I don't have the date in front of me.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Okay, we will send an invitation to the minister.

With that, we'll move on to our next questioner.

Mr. Morrissey, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Thank you, Chair.

The thing that frustrates me with the current study is the misinformation that continually gets bandied around about marine protected areas. What I find disturbing is the rhetoric that comes from those in the official opposition, who are climate change deniers and parrot the talking points coming from the U.S., which wants to undermine the whole environmental agenda of the government to the detriment of oceans and fisheries, not only there but in Canada as well.

Not on one occasion did I hear a question related to what environmental changes we are seeing in our oceans that are negatively impacting fishers. This is the reality.

I would like Ms. Graham to speak to that briefly, because we've heard some comments here about stock quota reductions on crab in one area. I've read extensively on that, and one factor that's affecting the biomass there is the warming oceans. They're affecting the crab biomass on the Atlantic coast and in certain Atlantic fisheries with warming water. It's something we have to address, or there will be no species for any fishers to participate in.

Could somebody comment on that to this committee? What aspects of protecting parts of the oceans are for the future benefit of today's fishers and future generations?

This can go to Ms. Macadam, and you can give it to whoever you want.

[Lori Macadam, Director, National Marine Conservation Areas Establishment, Parks Canada Agency]

At Parks Canada, we have a dual mandate to protect conservation areas for conservation and for cultural heritage. At the sites that have been operating for a number of years, like the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, the measures we've put in place have directly impacted and have had positive impacts on beluga populations, with mothers having safer spots to go to breed and care for those calves. We've also seen some eelgrass come back in the Gwaii Haanas national marine conservation area.

The work we've been doing at Parks Canada is building off the sites we already have, but we're also trying to work on additional sites to try to preserve and really protect those areas for future generations. Part of our mandate is to protect them for the education and enjoyment of Canadians, both now and for future generations.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Recently, an NMCA was being discussed on the southern coast of Newfoundland, which was cancelled. I received lots of inquiries from a lot of angry community people there who put a lot of work into advocating for that particular protected area. A lot of misinformation was being used to undermine the process going into that area.

What was the intent in that area? It was my understanding that fisheries would not be impacted.

[Lori Macadam]

That's a great question.

Approximately 20 years ago, the town of Burgeo approached Parks Canada to look at the possibility of creating a national marine conservation area outside the town.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Well, it came from the community, not from the Government of Canada.

[Lori Macadam]

It came from the town of Burgeo. It was their request, and at the request of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, we made sure they continued to be part of the process throughout.

The cultural heritage in that area, as you know, has a long history of wonderful Newfoundland and Labrador culture. The idea was to have conservation, but also to minimize the impact on the fishermen. Unprecedented, we went out early and told the fishermen exactly where we were thinking they wouldn't be able to fish. It was at only 5% of the area. We were willing to continue having conversations with the FFAW to look at whether that 5% would work or not. We reached out over 30 times to have meetings with the FFAW to discuss that over an 18-month period, and unfortunately, only half of the emails were responded to. They only chose to meet with us three times, so we couldn't get feedback.

The idea behind it was to look at preserving the corals and sponges—which is one thing we've heard needs to be conserved here—but also to minimize the impacts on the fishery.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Morrissey.

That completes our third round. We may have enough time to get through a fourth round.

We're going to start it with Mr. Small for five minutes.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The FFAW testified for this study not long ago, expressing grave concerns about the Virgin Rocks area of interest and establishing a marine protected area there. Historically, the Virgin Rocks have been the most productive cod fishing grounds in the world—bar none.

Now we're hearing from DFO that by 2028, snow crab stocks will be at historic lows. It seems that in Newfoundland and Labrador waters, and maybe throughout the rest of Atlantic Canada, we're returning to a proliferation of groundfish being the dominant species, versus crab.

How much consultation have you had on the Virgin Rocks protected area with the FFAW and other groups representing the fishing industry?

I think that question might best be answered by Ms. Neron.

[Marie-Eve Neron]

We're not involved.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Which one of your departments is pushing for that protected area?

[Kathy Graham]

The Newfoundland and Labrador region has been engaging with the fishing industry, my understanding is, with respect to the Virgin Rocks.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

How far along is that process?

[Kathy Graham]

I think it was just exploratory in terms of engaging with the fishing industry to try to understand if there was an opportunity to establish some protection.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

In the history of establishing protected areas, do you know how many areas that started out as an area of interest stopped right there and didn't become a protected area? What's the track record?

[Kathy Graham]

I wouldn't be able to say.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

I have only heard of two and they were with Parks Canada: one in Notre Dame Bay and one in the south coast fjords. Other than that, everything I've ever seen as an area of interest went all the way through. The fishing industry is obviously concerned for that reason given what's going to be happening around the Virgin Rocks.

How much more meaningful consultation with the fishing industry of Newfoundland and Labrador will you have on the Virgin Rocks AOI?

[Kathy Graham]

My understanding from colleagues who work in the region is that they are continuing to engage with the fishing industry to determine whether there is a path forward. I wouldn't be able to speak to the most recent conversations they would have had. I'd be able to refer back to them and get some information for the committee.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Central Newfoundland, NL]

Thank you.

I'm going to turn the remainder of my time over to Mr. Gunn.

[Aaron Gunn, Conservative, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Ms. Graham, how is the success or failure of the MPA network being measured by the government? Are there specific objectives, or is it simply about closing a certain number of areas?

[Kathy Graham]

In terms of advancing conservation targets in the northern shelf bioregion, the objective is not to close fishing at all. It's about trying to understand what the conservation objectives are and what activities are posing the greatest risk.

[Aaron Gunn, Conservative, North Island—Powell River, BC]

I don't think anybody would argue that it's the objective. I think the point is that it's a necessary consequence of preserving spatial closures.

Do you think it's reasonable that it should take longer to inform fishermen and coastal communities of what areas are being closed and what gear types are being prohibited than it took Canada to win the Second World War? Do you think that's a reasonable time frame?

[Kathy Graham]

I think the northern shelf bioregion, with the complexity, the partnerships and all the work that's happened to establish the network action plan, demonstrates the willingness of people to come together to chart a path forward.

[Aaron Gunn, Conservative, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Then the length is evidence that a good job is being done—how long it's taken. Is that fair?