There are seven species of wild Pacific salmon managed by DFO in the Pacific region. The populations are highly prized by the fishing community and many other species in the ecosystem. Key activities for sustainably managing this valuable resource include research and monitoring of fish populations, stock enhancement through hatcheries and habitat restoration, and enforcement of laws and policies.
Current stocks of wild salmon are in decline and fleet management and catch allocations have not kept pace. Pressure to provide allocations for conservation, First Nations, commercial and recreational fisheries is very challenging. There are also suspicions of illegal fishing.
Public confidence in DFO management of wild salmon is low as tools for predicting salmon returns are not always accurate. Data on fish numbers and locations during all parts of the wild salmon’s life cycle is incomplete making recommendations for management decisions challenging. More work is needed in research and field studies to improve estimation and to build DFO’s image as a competent fish stock manager.
Better models and more staff are needed to manage the fishing season allocation in order to free up our scientists to further study the populations and improve forecasting tools.
Vote on what issue you think is most important in Canadian fishery management.
Wild Pacific Salmon
March 31, 2014 •
The environmental petitions process under the Auditor General Act provides a formal means for Canadians to bring their concerns about environmental issues to the attention of federal ministers and departments and to obtain a response to their concerns. The Office of the Auditor General of Canada has created a guide to help people better understand the environmental petitions process and to provide some suggestions to prepare well-crafted and concise petitions.
December 12, 2013 •
At least one aspect of climate change makes even fish fretful.
Ocean acidification — one of the consequences of an increasing level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere — makes rockfish anxious, according to a newly published paper by a neuroscientist at Edmonton's MacEwan University.
"It's actually very similar to a human being anxious at a very basic fundamental level," said Trevor Hamilton. "(The fish are) afraid of any sort of stimuli that could be harmful."
December 2, 2013 •
Despite an increased awareness of overfishing, the majority of people still know very little about the scale of the destruction being wrought on the oceans. This film presents an unquestionable case for why overfishing needs to end and shows that there is still an opportunity for change. Through reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, fisheries ministers and members of the European Parliament, MEPs, can end overfishing.
via trueactivist.com
June 28, 2012 •
Mike de Souza writes that changes to Canada's environmental protection laws in the federal budget implementation bill will offer new tools to "authorize" water pollution, while allowing the government to outsource services to protect the country's waterways, according Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield.
June 28, 2012 •
As reported in the Vancouver Sun, the Harper government has announced major cuts to its fisheries habitat protection program, prompting a retired federal biologist to warn Wednesday of a dramatic increase in the risk of environmental damage.
The cuts coincide with Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield's launch of a public consultation process seeking input on how Canadian fisheries should be managed.
April 8, 2012 •
Expect a pipeline or a road to be built soon over your favourite fishing spot. As part of its effort to break down “regulatory barriers” to industrial projects, like pipelines, mining and oil sands, among others, the federal Conservative government plans to remove habitat protection from Section 35 of the Fisheries Act. Many believe this change will be included in the implementation bill of the recent federal budget.
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