As a result of their deliberations, committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada consider the socio-economic impacts on local communities affected by fishery closures announced by the Department.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada expand its consideration of threats to marine mammals from its current limited scope of commercial and recreational fishing and marine vessels to include all potential threats.

Recommendation 3

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada establish and publicly share population targets for threatened or endangered marine mammals and the stocks that they depend on for food and survival.

Recommendation 4

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada regularly survey the population of Southern Resident Killer Whales, pinnipeds, and Chinook salmon and determine desired population targets for each species that will ensure both their relative sustainability and ecosystem balance.

Recommendation 5

That, before implementing new measures to protect endangered whale species, Fisheries and Oceans Canada consult and maintain a meaningful dialogue with the following groups: fishers; those with local and traditional fishing knowledge; those with Indigenous traditional knowledge; and those with expertise in the field and who know what measures are feasible and the most effective at protecting whales. This would ensure collaboration between the industry, researchers, and scientists in the interest of protecting endangered species.

Recommendation 6

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada consult with stakeholders, assess socio-economic costs of regulations being developed and work with stakeholders in a transparent and cooperative way in an effort to avoid eroding access to marine resources for those who depend on them.

Recommendation 7

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada reduce regulatory obstacles that prevent fishers from better protecting whales (i.e. beyond regulatory measures to get an end-line down; illegal for scallop fishers to bring lost then found lobster traps ashore).

Recommendation 8

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s protocol on data collection on gear loss include data on gear retrieved because if not, the ghost gear problem is artificially inflated.

Recommendation 9

That the federal government contribute to funds created by fishers to protect whales, such as the fund created by the Fundy North Fishermen’s Association for ghost gear retrieval.

Recommendation 10

That any measures adopted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to protect endangered whale species find a balance between providing the best protection for whales while minimizing negative socio-economic impacts. This should include processes where fishing zones are only closed if whales are present.

Recommendation 11

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada consult broadly when considering making changes to fishery management measures including fishery openings and static and dynamic closures in various fishing areas. Those consultations must include local fishers and Indigenous participation.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada increase investments in research and collection of existing data to better understand the critical habitat of whales.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada consider designating additional areas of protected critical habitat on the west coast of Vancouver Island, necessary to protect the Southern Resident Killer Whale.

Recommendation 14

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada increase efforts to rebuild the Chinook salmon stocks, using all available options.

Recommendation 15

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada increase the availability of preferred prey through the establishment of a science and local/traditional knowledge-based, targeted predator control program to reduce the pinniped predation around estuary and river environments, and other impacted systems.

Recommendation 16

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada increase the availability of preferred prey by expanding the Salmonid Enhancement Program to include hatcheries utilizing alternative methods of Chinook production, including the rearing of S1 Chinook and the utilization of sea pen rearing techniques.

Recommendation 17

That the Government of Canada investigate the impacts of commercial and recreational whale-watching on Southern Resident Killer Whales in feeding refuges.

Recommendation 18

That, outside of feeding refuges, the Government of Canada establish and strictly enforce a 200- metre buffer between all vessels and Southern Resident Killer Whales, as well as speed restrictions for commercial and recreational whale-watching vessels.

Recommendation 19

That the Government of Canada institute a series of operational measures to reduce noise and disturbance from commercial vessels traveling in or near Southern Resident Killer Whales’ foraging areas. Key actions include speed limits, redirecting ship traffic away from feeding refuges, and making vessels quieter.

Recommendation 20

That the Government of Canada take steps to limit the cumulative effects of vessel traffic on Southern Resident Killer Whales.