Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on 
Fisheries and Oceans

Issue 7 - Minutes of Proceedings - March 29, 2012 (morning meeting)

HALIFAX, Thursday, March 29, 2012
(16)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met this day at 9 a.m., in the Regency Room, Prince George Hotel, the chair, the Honourable Fabian Manning, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cochrane, Harb, Hubley, MacDonald and Manning (5).

In attendance: François Côté, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; and Ceri Au, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate of the Senate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 20, 2011, the committee continued its study on the management of the grey seal population off Canada's East Coast. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

WITNESSES:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada:

Morley Knight, Director General, Resource Management;

Mike Hammill, Section Head, Marine Mammals Biology and Conservation;

Nell den Heyer, Biologist, Population Ecology Division, Science Branch (Maritimes);

Doug P. Swain, Scientist, Marine Fish Ecosystems, Marine Fish Section.

Dalhousie University:

Boris Worm, Associate Professor, Department of Biology;

Sara Iverson, Professor, Department of Biology;

Heike K. Lotze, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Marine Renewable Resources, Department of Biology.

Eastern Fishermen's Federation:

John Levy, Secretary;

Ronnie Heighton, Board Member;

Wilford D. Smith, Board Member;

Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Newfoundland and Labrador:

The Honourable Darin King, MHA, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture;

Alastair O'Rielly, Deputy Minister.

Messrs. Knight, Hammill, Swain and Ms. den Heyer each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 9:58 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:07 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Worm, Mses. Lotze and Iverson each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 11:10 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:33 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Levy made a statement and, together with Messrs. Heighton and Smith, answered questions.

At 12:16 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:27 p.m., the committee resumed.

It was agreed that coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings be permitted.

The minister made a statement and, together with Mr. O'Rielly, answered questions.

At 1:26 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Danielle Labonté

Clerk of the Committee