Fisheries committee  We found evidence of a disease that is considered the third most important emerging disease in Norwegian salmon. We have not yet demonstrated whether it impacts wild fish, merely that a disease that had not previously been diagnosed in B.C. actually is present there.

Fisheries committee  Well, first of all, I was asked to present at this meeting. I actually didn't submit something. I staunchly stand that I am neither an anti-aquaculture advocate nor an aquaculture advocate. I really do believe that scientists need to be objective. I may be criticized for that viewpoint, but I think it is really important if we're going to be providing balance to policy decisions.

Fisheries committee  You know, I want to say that a lot of change has happened in the department in the last year, and I think we really are moving in a really positive direction. I am not trying to be critical of Fisheries and Oceans at all. I love my job there, and I appreciate the kind of science I am allowed to do.

Fisheries committee  Not necessarily. I'm not a habitat biologist, so I can't really speak too much to that. I have heard some of the discussion about this. My concern is more that it's a bit of a slippery slope. If we start to have a value judgment on whatever stocks and species are the most abundant in supporting the greatest fisheries today and more or less ignore or don't provide the same level of protection to stocks and species that may not be supporting fisheries today but may support fisheries tomorrow, we may not have some of those opportunities in the future.

Fisheries committee  That is my concern. On the west coast of Canada, we have many stocks that are currently at very, very record low abundances, so there are not enough fish to support a fishery. They have supported fisheries in the past, and they may in the future, but my concern is that if they're not afforded the same protection as the larger, healthier stocks, they may never rebound.

Fisheries committee  In the way that the legislation is now worded, that does appear the way it is worded.

Fisheries committee  Okay. In my view, it's difficult to convince a skeptical public that we are doing everything we can to conduct robust, transparent, evidence-based risk assessments on aquaculture-wild interactions if we do not maintain independence from industry and if scientists and managers must seek permission from industry to utilize their fish.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today, Mr. Chair and distinguished members of the parliamentary committee. I am Dr. Kristi Miller-Saunders. I've been a research scientist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada for 23 years. For the last seven years I have headed the molecular genetics section in the Pacific region.