Fisheries committee  Thank you. We have met with the Yukon first nations and the Yukon government to talk about shared priorities and where we can work together through the Pacific salmon strategy initiative. We are looking at specific opportunities to work with them to lever that funding for activi

Fisheries committee  In the Pacific salmon strategy initiative, there are four pillars that are divided into different categories of activities, such as conservation and enhancement and those types of things. We look at priority projects. For the specifics between B.C. and Yukon, there's no formal b

Fisheries committee  What I would say on that is we work with the Yukon government and the indigenous peoples in a couple of different ways. There is funding provided under regular programming. There's the aboriginal fisheries strategy. There's funding there. There's also funding provided under the P

Fisheries committee  Perhaps I could answer that. We do have a Pacific Salmon Treaty between Canada and the U.S. whereby stocks that cross both countries are managed collectively. There is an exchange of information at a technical level according to species. We have a number of panels that meet bila

Fisheries committee  I would just agree, briefly, that the situation in Yukon is very troubling, from a salmon-return perspective. With regard to the community enhancement program, that is part of the program that Sarah has oversight for, so I invite Sarah to respond more fully.

Fisheries committee  I would just add that in cases where we have had trouble with vessel availability, we have also set up standing offers and contracts for the use of other vessels when needed so that we can maintain our important stock assessment surveys. Thank you.

Fisheries committee  It is closed because of the importance of the area. The complexities of managing—

Fisheries committee  I think I am answering it actually. It's because of the importance of the area for that species at risk.

Fisheries committee  We have an advisory process set up for salmon management with commercial, recreational and first nations harvesters and advisers. It is a very comprehensive process—

Fisheries committee  With regard to the decision around chinook closures, we do have a responsibility to support the southern resident killer whales as a species at risk that are endangered.

Fisheries committee  Chinook salmon represents about 90% of the diet of those whales. We have a responsibility to ensure that we provide enough fish at the right times and locations to support those—

Fisheries committee  I think the question about science is the important point. When we look at science, it is a series of pieces of information. We have information from universities, we have our own stock assessment scientists and we have a process to consider the abundance of chinook. It is not a

Fisheries committee  We do have a comprehensive approach for managing the southern resident killer whales, but just to speak specifically to your question about Pender Bluffs, we have confirmed that area as one of the most frequently used areas. For that reason we believe it's appropriate to protect

Fisheries committee  I would add that the bubble zones are employed as a management tool in other areas. When it comes to—

Fisheries committee  The regional director is responsible for the management of all fisheries in the Pacific region. He also has the responsibility for aquaculture. In addition, small craft harbours is under that organization.