Fisheries and Oceans

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met to receive a briefing from the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, and departmental officials on the state of Canadian fisheries, including stock management, enforcement, and economic challenges. Appearing as witnesses were Annette Gibbons, Deputy Minister, and Adam Burns, Assistant Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Harbour Management.

Minister Thompson emphasized her commitment to science-based decision-making, economic growth in coastal communities, and strengthening the owner-operator model on the east coast while pursuing modernization on the west coast through consultation. She highlighted recent increases to the total allowable catch for northern cod and herring in southwest Nova Scotia, and stressed the urgency of attracting new entrants to the fishery. She also noted her focus on enforcing the Fisheries Act and ensuring fisheries officers have the tools needed to hold violators accountable.

Deputy Minister Annette Gibbons addressed enforcement in St. Marys Bay, describing a proactive approach including community engagement, patrols, and access controls such as a fence and gate at Saulnierville. She acknowledged concerns about the disconnect between departmental science and harvesters' observations, and said the department is working to improve communication and use plain language in science advice. On the transfer of the Coast Guard to National Defence, she stated that DFO is negotiating a service-level agreement and does not expect changes to science data collection or safety.

Assistant Deputy Minister Adam Burns explained that electronic logbooks and buyer data provide reliable catch information for lobster management, and noted that dockside weighing would require significant investment due to the number of landing sites. He added that the department's scientists analyze this data to assess stock status in commercial lobster areas.

Gibbons disagreed with Conservative MP Clifford Small's characterization of foreign-funded ENGOs as destabilizing, stating that the department welcomes diverse expertise and perspectives, and that international collaboration is a normal part of fisheries management. On the exploratory lobster licence program in Quebec, she confirmed that catch data from First Nations is still being collected and that consultations will precede any decision on a second phase, though no timeline was given.

The committee briefly debated procedural matters, including a request for additional speaking time due to technical difficulties, but no motions or votes were recorded.