Fisheries committee  You're right, Mr. MacAulay. This is why the education outreach is a key plank in our proposal for Canada. We are working with organizations, such as the conservation authorities, the folks who actually are out there on the water. Groups such as the Ontario Federation of Anglers &

Fisheries committee  There's a scientific answer to it. There seems to be a lot of discussion on this. I think Nick and Becky would tell you that what the research means on this is still very much in its infancy. Clearly, if something like ballast water is brought into Canada from a vessel that's g

Fisheries committee  I think probably the biggest lesson—and it gets to what Nick was saying—is that dealing with any invasive species is best done before it gets in and gets established. In Canada we're seeing that with how much it's costing us to address sea lamprey and the impact that it's had on

Fisheries committee  We were fortunate as our team was working to support Environment Canada on negotiations for Canada related to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. We're well under way in the process of the binational risk assessment, so we had the key parameters around that. Both sides were

Fisheries committee  Yes.

Fisheries committee  What I have seen in all the time I have been involved in this file is a great deal of cooperation and a very integrated approach. Our participation in the Asian Carp Regional Coordination Committee is a step in that direction. We were always on the periphery of discussions. When

Fisheries committee  I think all of the work we are doing and the discussions that we've had with our American, provincial, and state colleagues are along the lines of using what we know, using what we're seeing from climate change, to advance the work we have. It's one of these things that is really

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, members of the committee, it is a pleasure to be here to address Fisheries and Oceans Canada's mandate regarding our contribution to protecting the Great Lakes against the Asian carp. My name is David Burden and I am Acting Regional

Fisheries committee  That's a good question. It is one that we have been working at with our American partners, as well as with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, in that we have done some tabletop exercises in looking at exactly what we would do if a truck was going down the 402 or whatever

Fisheries committee  I think the issue with any invasive species—and we've talked about all of the invasive species—is that once it's here, it's almost impossible to eradicate. That's sort of what we're up against. I grew up in the coast guard, so I take the analogy of what we do from a boater educ

Fisheries committee  Sure. On the role between Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans, it's not about one trumping the other. There's a specific role that Transport has, and it is the regulatory agency, but we have the role, the mandate, to provide it with the appropriate scientific advice to sup

Fisheries committee  If I could add to what David was saying, it really is species-dependent. If we look at the Asian carp and what we're seeing in the United States and the Mississippi watershed, there is a lot of sound science telling us that basically anywhere between 80% and 90% of the biomass is

Fisheries committee  From what we've seen and where we are, it seems to be working.

Fisheries committee  There are a number of questions within that question, I think, which would probably be my first response. On the physical barrier, there have been a number of studies. As you may be aware, there is litigation in the United States relative to whether that waterway should still b

Fisheries committee  I don't think I can give you a percentage breakdown. Clearly we're trying to address it at all levels. But I can give you one rationale on why we feel the regulations work that is going on is so important. The buying and selling of live Asian carp is worth about $5 million a yea