Fisheries committee  When we do science advice, it's based on the data. Yes, through the peer review process, the data is integrated. That includes input from the industry. If there's new scientific information that's available, new data, it's revised on a regular basis, as need be, in terms of the biology of the species or if there's fundamentally new information.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much for the question. I assume the member is referring to the peer review advice, rather than the actual research project—

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the clarification. The parameters of the scientific study itself—the proposal—are led and decided on by the research scientists and the scientists of the department. What is set, for the management of the science, are the priorities we would like to address through research or monitoring proposals.

Fisheries committee  The idea for how we prioritize our work is that the type of science endeavour we do is targeted at answering specific questions or management objectives. The easy example, with which we're all familiar, is fish stock assessment. We know that, on a regular basis, we have to reassess the health of the stock and provide scientific evidence for the management to articulate a proposition.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. In all cases, when we produce scientific advice, we assess the causes that explain the trajectory of fish stocks, whether it is due to fishing or other causes. We often find that natural mortality, for all sorts of reasons, including predation, is a predominant factor compared to mortality caused by fishing.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. We have key collaborations and we consider the information provided by fishers in different ways. It can start from the very beginning. In some cases we do data collection in partnership with industry, which provides us with samples and participates in sampling.

Fisheries committee  Sometimes there can be significant differences between observations in the field and peer-reviewed scientific opinion. This is not because the observations are not good. It is because correct interpretation of observations require systematic data and models; in short, a broader context.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. For shrimp, we use abundance indices. We haven't determined an absolute biomass value. These are indices that were established several years ago as we set a precautionary principle for the species.

Fisheries committee  We're working on a method to extrapolate a total amount of biomass from our indices, but I don't have the figures with me.

Fisheries committee  Unfortunately, I don't have the scientific data for that region of Quebec in front of me, but yes, redfish is a major shrimp predator, and its population has increased in recent years.

Fisheries committee  Actually, when there is known pressure on the stocks, whether it be natural or fisheries-related, we factor that in and deliver cautious scientific advice. You mentioned redfish predation, which is considerable. There are also factors related to warming and anoxic waters in the Gulf of St.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. We use a range of methods to do field surveys. We conduct surveys aboard ships and fishing vessels in the marine environment, scuba diving surveys, remote camera surveys, and river surveys for salmon, for example. That means there's a whole range of methods for collecting evidence and data, which are incorporated into the scientific advice that we produce to support decisions.

Fisheries committee  We do indeed communicate with them. We work in collaboration with several other departments, but first and foremost, we work with Environment and Climate Change Canada on all aspects of modelling ocean conditions and the impacts of climate change. We also contribute to their weather forecasts.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. Obviously, I can only reply in general terms, as I'm responsible for the science input to the process. Along with the science input, all other inputs received through the consultation—not just through official fisheries management advisory meetings—are summarized and provided for decision-making.

Fisheries committee  The short answer is yes. We provide, systematically, science advice to support the memo for decisions for the minister. The science advice is directly based on the peer review meetings that we conduct ahead of the process that leads to the decision.