Evidence of meeting #43 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 rivers.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
What kind of support are you proposing for first nations? What is missing? The quota has been granted.
President, Atlantic Salmon Federation
They are not currently allowed to use enough trap-nets. They use live trap-nets. The Eel Ground First Nation, in particular, would like to use more. They would also like to have a multi-year licence—right now, it's year to year—so they can plan and make investments in equipment and personnel. That's a significant bottleneck. Allow the communities to use enough nets to catch the quota. Last year, only about 60,000 of that 175,000 quota was handed out to the communities.
In DFO's defence, it's a learning curve. Last year was the first year of that larger quota. The minister has assured us that the full quota will be handed out this year. We're appreciative of that, and we hope the department does that.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Thank you.
Mr. Dalton, specifically, what do you think we should do to restore balance and reduce the population of striped bass in the Miramichi River?
President Emeritus, Miramichi Salmon Association Inc.
Thank you for the question.
What Mr. Wilbur suggested is the right approach.
I would like to add this: The population of salmon is stressed now. It's going to take time to get the ecosystem in balance. We have to do restoration efforts. We have to try to save every little salmon we can until we can get the ecosystem balanced. The ecosystem is out of balance in the Gulf of St. Lawrence because of grey seals. The cod population is devastated there. It will never recover as long as there are grey seals. There are big issues in getting ecosystems balanced.
We have to save every fish we can until we get it balanced.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you.
I want to thank the witnesses for coming. Again, I am learning fish things that I didn't know about. You have been very excellent in suggesting recommendations, which is good. You pinpointed the problems and gave us some good recommendations.
Now we have to—
Yes, Serge.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
We have the vote, Madam Chair. I'm going to move to adjourn the meeting.