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• 1. DFO MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE
• 2. PACIFIC SALMON TREATY
• 3. PACIFIC SALMON REVITALIZATION STRATEGY
• 4. ABORIGINAL ISSUES
• 5. CONSERVATION
• 6. STAKEHOLDERS' INTERESTS

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. DFO MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE

The Committee heard testimony from witnesses from every community not only on the West Coast but on the East Coast, who were critical of the general direction of the federal fisheries policy, the lack of goals and objectives. They were also very critical of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans management. This appears to stem from the implementation of a variety of policies despite objection from West Coast residents. DFO continues to ignore the input of stakeholders and has neglected the needs of communities dependent on the resource.

Witnesses from every community and every sector said they have lost all trust and confidence in DFO. Their overall consensus is that political interference and incompetence within DFO is so great that it cannot be overcome under the current structure and senior bureaucrats.

The Committee also heard suggestions that most DFO staff should be moved to the East and West coasts so that they could be close to the fishery instead of being far removed from it in Ottawa. A typical sentiment was that biologists and enforcement officers were needed on the coast rather than bureaucrats in Ottawa.

Therefore, the Committee recommends that:

The government proceed to complete a restructuring of DFO in order to manage the resource at the source. Specifically, the Committee recommends that the government abandon the current structure of DFO and relocate employees from DFO in Ottawa to the regions and leave only a small number of Ministerial staff in Ottawa.

The Committee believes the federal government cannot divest its responsibility, and it must include stakeholders and the provinces as active participants in the management of the fishery.

The government undertake a complete review of its fisheries policy formulation and its consultation process in order to rebuild the lost trust between the government and the fishing community.

The Committee further recommends that the scientific arm of DFO must be better funded and must have autonomy from the government to eliminate political interference. Management decisions must be transparent and based on complete sound scientific evidence as opposed to selective findings which are consistent with political agendas.

2. PACIFIC SALMON TREATY

The Committee heard several witnesses testify that, because of aggressive interception fishing by the Alaskan fleets, they have suffered considerable financial losses causing employers to go out of business and, in certain cases, forcing them to abandon their homes. The Committee feels it is likely that fishing by U.S. fleets will continue despite the complete ban on coho salmon fishing announced by the Minister.

The Committee also believes the Americans, in particular the Alaskans, have been in violation of the 1985 Pacific Salmon Treaty, fishing illegally and intercepting Canadian fish.

Therefore, the Committee recommends that:

The government take immediate actions against the United States in order to preserve our depleted coho salmon stocks and to facilitate a Pacific Salmon Treaty resolution.

3. PACIFIC SALMON REVITALIZATION STRATEGY

Witnesses testified that the Pacific Salmon Revitalization Strategy or the "Mifflin Plan" had created chaos on the West Coast and in coastal communities. Some witnesses stated that the Plan had not achieved the conservation objectives set out and had done nothing for the protection of our fish habitat. Some witnesses even recommended that the Plan be scrapped.

Witnesses also believe that although the Mifflin Plan may have reduced the size of the fleet it has not reduced capacity as a result of licence stacking, and disproportionately reducing the commercial fleet. The troll fleets were cut the most while the seine fleets were cut the least.

Therefore, the Committee recommends that:

The government implement a salmon licence buyback and readjustment program for the West Coast to continue the downsizing of the fleet. The Committee recommends that the focus of the buyback should be a reduction of capacity in the net fleet.

4. ABORIGINAL ISSUES

The Committee heard testimony with respect to the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS). One of the most objectionable features of the AFS was that it had created a racially-based division in the commercial sector of the fishery which was seen as being socially divisive. There was a widespread consensus among the non-native commercial sector that commercial fishermen should all be treated on the same basis. Two commercial fisheries would not work.

Most commercial fishermen had no objection to greater participation by First Nations in the commercial fishing industry but they believed that Aboriginal fishermen should participate as part of the regular commercial fleet, not as a separate race-based commercial fishery.

The Committee does not want the AFS Pilot Sales Program to be confused with the Aboriginal Constitutional right to fish for "food, social and ceremonial purposes."

Therefore, the Committee recommends that:

The government reconsider its AFS Pilot Sales Program and further recommends that increased aboriginal participation in the commercial fishery be achieved by buying back existing commercial licences and transferring them to First Nations fishermen. However, this should not diminish the Department's overall objective of reducing fleet capacity.

5. CONSERVATION

The Committee encountered a broad consensus that all levels of government had failed in their responsibilities to protect and restore the salmon habitat. It was mentioned that displaced fishery workers could carry out much of the restoration work needed to adequately protect the fish habitat. Several volunteer operations have already been implemented by community groups such as the Goldstream Hatchery but much more could be done.

Therefore, the Committee recommends that:

The government immediately review its policy with respect to: habitat restoration and protection; enforcement; and fish hatcheries.

The Committee further recommends that additional human resources be provided at the local level for habitat restoration. This would not only benefit displaced fishery workers but would also provide long-term sustainable results in the rebuilding of the salmon stocks for the future.

6. STAKEHOLDERS' INTERESTS

The Committee heard from witnesses from a variety of sectors in the fishing industry. Most of them spoke of the uncertainty in the industry and the insufficient income to keep towns viable. They acknowledged the need for training programs and criticized Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) regarding the Employment Insurance (EI) reachback program which left too many applicants ineligible for sponsorship and let too many people fall through the cracks.

Therefore, the Committee recommends that:

The federal government commit to working in partnership with West Coast stakeholders in order to implement a long-term but finite transition strategy for individuals and communities to develop new types of employment and industry to assist displaced fishing industry workers.