QUESTION PERIOD — Fisheries and Oceans
Marine Research
May 28, 2024
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Gold, the Fisheries Committee report entitled Sealing the Future: A Call to Action reveals the government’s long‑standing unwillingness to leverage innovation to conduct more and better scientific research in Canada’s marine environments, even when those technologies and approaches are proven to be far more effective and cost-efficient. Witnesses highlighted several examples, such as using bioacoustics to assess fish stocks, electronic telemetry to track the movements and survival of marine species and environmental DNA as a tool for biodiversity surveillance. Those technologies can immediately fill existing data and research gaps in Canada and Canada’s marine ecosystems. However, DFO has yet to seize the opportunity.
Senator Gold, why has DFO not adopted those innovations, and what plans, if any, are in place to integrate such technologies into future research efforts?
Senator, thank you for your question and for raising the importance of the science with regard to addressing this issue in all of its facets.
The government agrees that more science is necessary and more data is always better. In September, I am advised the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced new funding for seal and sea lion research projects across Canada, and the government will continue to look for ways to build upon existing science and incorporate expert recommendations and emerging science into the next steps for the industry.
Senator Gold, our committee found that DFO is not fulfilling its marine research mandate. There is evidence that this has been the case for a long time. Consequently, when existing research with technical and operational capacity exists in the private, not-for-profit and academic sectors, how are we going to get DFO to finally begin to work with these other groups to fill the vacuum?
Again, thank you for your question. Also, again, thanks to the committee for its report.
Colleagues, by now, you may know that the Minister of Fisheries will likely appear before the Senate for ministerial Question Period in the coming weeks. I will certainly draw the minister’s attention to this point so she can answer this question in full when she does appear before us.
