QUESTION PERIOD — Fisheries and Oceans
Data Collection
December 13, 2023
My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Senator Gold, approximately 72,000 Canadians make their living directly from fishing and related activities. In fact, in 2021, Canada’s commercial marine fisheries were valued at $4.6 billion. However, a recent report from the Auditor General found that Fisheries and Oceans Canada remains unable to collect catch data. According to the Auditor General, without dependable and timely catch data, the department does not have the important information it needs to support the sustainable management of fisheries. It runs the risk that fish stocks are overexploited.
Senator Gold, how is the government planning to address this serious issue?
It is a serious issue, and I thank you for the question. The government thanks the Commissioner of the Environment for the important work that he does and agrees with all the recommendations in the report. I’ve been advised that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a number of sources of information that enable it to monitor fisheries effectively and integrate those data into the decision-making process. That said, there is always room for improvement. As a former deputy chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans here, I can say that with some confidence.
That’s why the government will continue to improve the management of the fisheries based on the best available science and in collaboration with other reliable sources of information. I understand that the Government of Canada will continue to work closely with the commissioner’s office to implement his recommendations and sustainably manage marine commercial fisheries for the benefit of future generations.
Senator Gold, the collapse of the Atlantic cod population in the 1990s has shown that the recovery of fish stocks is far more difficult and resource-intensive than keeping a species’ numbers at a healthy level. Will the government commit to developing and implementing a nationally consistent procedure for systematically tracking whether third party observers deliver fisheries catch monitoring information as required?
It is my understanding that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is in the process of its third party monitoring program review, which includes both the At-sea Observer and Dockside Monitoring programs. It is currently engaged in identifying gaps in the current model and won’t hesitate to make changes if the review demonstrates that’s necessary. It is of paramount importance to the government that the third parties it deals with ensure efficient and effective monitoring of fish stocks.
