Statement made on 01 November 2011 by Senator Elizabeth Hubley
Hon. Elizabeth Hubley:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Canadian fishermen rely on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to manage fish stocks and issue quotas that are scientifically sound and based on a principle of long-term sustainability. This is not an easy job. Marine ecosystems are highly complex structures, and maintaining their integrity while also meeting the needs of fishermen demands a thorough understanding of the science involved.
This is why I was shocked to hear that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is cutting its science budget by more than $17 million. Moreover, the department has announced that it will no longer fund the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council and will implement multi-year quota cycles for all fisheries.
The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council was created to form a partnership between the scientific and academic expertise and all sectors of the fishing industry. It made public recommendations to the minister on conservation measures and long-term conservation strategies. Its objective was to help the government achieve its conservation, economic and social objectives for the fisheries, including rebuilding stocks to optimum levels. This critical scientific advice and voice for fishers is now gone.
How can the government guarantee the future sustainability of Canada's marine resources if it is unwilling to pay for the scientific studies that should be informing its policy decisions?
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