Joyce Murray

[Fisheries and Oceans, April 24th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear about what actually happened here.

The DFO more than doubled the number of enforcement officers. We worked closely with the RCMP. We made numerous arrests, seized gear and unauthorized catches and closed down the fishery to protect public safety and conservation. This enforcement continues for the closed elver fishery.

We are working to reduce the amount of illegal fishery, and we will continue to do just that.

[Fisheries and Oceans, April 17th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member has his facts backwards. In fact, this year we more than doubled enforcement capacity. We worked collaboratively with the RCMP to ensure that it was even stronger enforcement.

My primary responsibility is the safety of people and conservation of the species, and that is why I shut the fisheries down.

[Petitions, March 29th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order to correct the record from my answer in question period today. Licences for the elver fishery have been issued for the 2023 season.

[Fisheries and Oceans, March 29th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to advancing first nations' treaty right to fish. The elver fishery is unique and the preferred approach remains a willing buyer and a willing seller. That is the way to create predictability in the market and allow all harvesters to adequately plan.

However, in keeping with the Ahousaht court decision, we acknowledge that there are times that there is not a willing seller at a market price. A decision for the 2023 season has not been made, and it will be shared soon.

[Fisheries and Oceans, March 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that I met with the delegation this morning and we have plans to continue working together so that we can include all of the first nations affected by open-net pen aquaculture as we transition away over the coming years.

[Fisheries and Oceans, December 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Bonavista—Burin—Trinity for his strong advocacy for his constituents.

Canada and the United States do indeed have a strong tradition of co-operating in protecting our waters and minimizing oil spills. This agreement gives our countries better and stronger mechanisms and tools to respond to marine spills by working even more closely together. Alongside the U.S., we will continue to protect the oceans and keep our coasts clean and safe, and this agreement will help do exactly that.

[The Environment, December 2nd, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I share the member's concern about the North Atlantic right whale, which is an endangered species. Our government is taking decisive and necessary steps to protect them. We have implemented Canada's dynamic closure system to protect whales when they are sighted. We remove ghost gear to reduce entanglements. We are innovating on whale-safe gear to further protect these whales. We are aware of their situation, and I am working hard to make sure we are protecting them.

[Fisheries and Oceans, November 17th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that protecting wild salmon and their habitat is my top priority. This transition is already under way. We have already removed fish farms from the Discovery Islands. There are others that indigenous communities have asked to be moved and have been moved away, so this transition is under way. We will have a plan by June 2023 as to how we will proceed further in protecting our very precious wild salmon.

[Fisheries and Oceans, November 3rd, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for the great work he does for his constituents.

I received a report from the Atlantic seal science task force just this spring and the government is already taking action on it.

I am happy to share with the House that, on November 8 and 9, I will be hosting a seal summit in St. John's, and we will be exploring opportunities for indigenous and rural communities.

I do look forward to working with indigenous people, industry, scientists and others on this very important goal.

[Fisheries and Oceans, October 21st, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Avalon for his leadership and hard work.

I have had the chance to see the damage from Fiona's destructive powers first-hand and I have heard just how critical our small craft harbours are for people and their communities and economies. That is why I announced $100 million of federal support for immediate work to clean up harbours and recover lost fishing gear.

DFO officials are working hard to make sure that harbours are operational when fishing seasons begin, and we will not stop until the job is done.