43rd Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 25, 2021432-00297432-00297 (Fisheries)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNDPBCNovember 26, 2020January 25, 2021March 23, 2020Petition to the Government of CanadaWe, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following:
  • THAT the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the Pacific herring population dropped by approximately 1/3 between 2016 and 2019, and will drop by more than 50% by 2020;
  • THAT the unexpected drop in the herring population has led to overfishing of existing stock;
  • THAT Pacific herring is the basis of the food web that supports salmon, killer and humpback whales, cod and halibut, seabirds and other independent species on the Pacific coast;
  • THAT First Nations have constitutionally protected rights to herring which are an important food source and an integral part of First Nation cultures.
THEREFORE, we the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the government of Canada to suspend the 2020 Salish Sea herring fishery until a whole ecosystem plan is developed, to fairly compensate local fishers for economic losses, and to ensure that decisions are made with the full participation of First Nations and local communities.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanThe Government of Canada is committed to effectively managing Pacific herring fisheries through evidence-based decisions, ensuring the health and sustainability of these stocks into the future. We share your view that Pacific herring is an important source of food for many species on the Pacific coast and recognize that herring is an integral part of Frist Nations’ culture and that First Nations have priority access to herring for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, after conservation.Pacific herring are a forage fish species and as such, have large fluctuations in abundance, so a decline in biomass is not unexpected. Biomass forecasts are highly uncertain due to factors such as environmental conditions and predation, which vary from year to year. DFO’s harvest management approach is designed to account for this variability and sets the total allowable catch each year in the Strait of Georgia by applying a target harvest rate of 20 per cent to the forecast of spawning biomass.  This is an annual process where abundance and stock status are updated with the most recent information to inform the forecast of spawning biomass for the coming season. The performance of this approach has been evaluated by DFO Science and subjected to scientific peer review. The approach is designed to be very likely to avoid spawning biomass levels below an established limit reference point.The harvest level for the 2019-20 Strait of Georgia roe herring fishery was set at 10,895 metric tonnes, which was 20 per cent of the forecasted spawning biomass. This harvest level is considered precautionary, as it leaves 80 per cent of mature herring and all juvenile herring to support population and ecosystem processes such as food for salmon and marine mammals. The 2019-20 overall harvest was reduced from previous years as a result of the lower biomass forecast and the application of the 20 percent target harvest rate and the fishery was successfully managed within the harvest level set for it.  This reduction in the allowable catch is consistent with the conservation goals of the management approach and provides opportunity for industry, including those First Nations that participate in the commercial fishery. The 2020 Stock Assessment information for herring in the Strait of Georgia was recently released and estimates that the spawning biomass increased in 2020 from 2019 levels and that the stock remains at a healthy level.The approach outlined above is detailed in the 2019-20 Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, which was developed following consultations with First Nations’ communities and organizations, and stakeholders such as commercial harvesters. The consultation process ensures that fishery management decisions are transparent, made with the best available science and informed by Indigenous, commercial harvester, and public considerations.
Fisheries and fishersHerringSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledNovember 16, 2020432-00013432-00013 (Fisheries)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNDPBCSeptember 25, 2020November 16, 2020March 23, 2020Petition to the Government of CanadaWe, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following:
  • THAT the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the Pacific herring population dropped by approximately 1/3 between 2016 and 2019, and will drop by more than 50% by 2020;
  • THAT the unexpected drop in the herring population has led to overfishing of existing stock;
  • THAT Pacific herring is the basis of the food web that supports salmon, killer and humpback whales, cod and halibut, seabirds and other independent species on the Pacific coast;
  • THAT First Nations have constitutionally protected rights to herring which are an important food source and an integral part of First Nation cultures.
THEREFORE, we the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the government of Canada to suspend the 2020 Salish Sea herring fishery until a whole ecosystem plan is developed, to fairly compensate local fishers for economic losses, and to ensure that decisions are made with the full participation of First Nations and local communities.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanThe Government of Canada is committed to effectively managing Pacific herring fisheries through evidence-based decisions, ensuring the health and sustainability of these stocks into the future. We share your view that Pacific herring is an important source of food for many species on the Pacific coast and recognize that herring is an integral part of Frist Nations’ culture and that First Nations have priority access to herring for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, after conservation.Pacific herring are a forage fish species and as such, have large fluctuations in abundance, so a decline in biomass is not unexpected. Biomass forecasts are highly uncertain due to factors such as environmental conditions and predation, which vary from year to year. DFO’s harvest management approach is designed to account for this variability. The performance of this approach has been evaluated by DFO Science and subjected to scientific peer review. The approach is designed to be very likely to avoid spawning biomass levels below an established limit reference point.The harvest level for the 2019-20 Strait of Georgia herring fishery was set at 10,895 metric tonnes, which was 20 per cent of the forecasted spawning biomass. This harvest level is considered precautionary, as it leaves 80 per cent of mature herring and all juvenile herring to support population and ecosystem processes such as food for salmon and marine mammals. The 2019-20 harvest level was reduced from previous years as a result of the lower biomass forecast.  This reduction in the allowable catch is consistent with the conservation goals of the management approach and provides opportunity for industry, including those First Nations that participate in the commercial fishery. The approach outlined above is detailed in the 2019-20 Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, which was developed following consultations with First Nations’ communities and organizations, and stakeholders such as commercial harvesters. The consultation process ensures that fishery management decisions are transparent, made with the best available science and informed by Indigenous, commercial harvester, and public considerations.The 2020 Stock Assessment information for herring in the Strait of Georgia was recently released and estimates that the spawning biomass increased in 2020 from 2019 levels and that the stock remains at a healthy level.
Fisheries and fishersHerringSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledSeptember 24, 2020431-00245431-00245 (Environment)ElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsGreen PartyBCJune 10, 2020September 24, 2020November 5, 2018PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWhereas:
  • The Southern Resident killer whales of the Salish Sea are classed as an endangered population, with only 76 individuals remaining, and will become extinct very soon if we do not act;
  • The Ocean's Protection Plan is a good start but in order to save these whales rules must be mandatory not aspirational;
  • The Salish Sea is a key feeding area for these whales, which reside in the area for large portions of the year;
  • They are being pushed toward extinction due to pollution from our cities and shipping industries, reduced food (specifically Chinook salmon), and a sea full of noise and disturbances from boats big and small that disrupt their echo-location;
  • The population can recover if we reduce disturbance from ships and boats.
We the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to take emergency action to help save these whales by implementing further measures to avoid physical and acoustic disturbance from both whale watching vessels and large commercial vessels. More specifically, we ask that these actions include:
  • Creating entirely boat-free safety zones for the whales in crucial feeding areas;
  • Prohibiting commercial and recreational whale-watching of Southern Resident killer whales during crucial breeding and calving periods;
  • Establishing compulsory distance and speed restrictions for commercial and recreational whale-watching vessels in proximity to Southern Resident Killer Whales;
  • Implementing speed controls for commercial vessels transiting the Juan de Fuca and Haro strait;
  • Establishing a licensing system for commercial whale watching operators operating in Canadian waters;
  • Implementing measures to quiet commercial vessels servicing local routes in Southern Resident critical habitat;
  • Establishing a credible enforcement regime to support the above restrictions.
Response by the Minister of TransportSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Marc GarneauSouthern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are vital to the local marine ecosystem and have cultural significance for Indigenous peoples and coastal communities in British Columbia (BC). The Government of Canada is committed to the protection and recovery of the endangered SRKW. The department is taking actions to help address all of the primary threats to the SRKW: prey availability and accessibility, acoustic and physical disturbance and contaminants.The Government of Canada has made significant investments and advancements with respect to the protection and recovery of the SRKW. Beyond the $338 million allocated for stronger ecosystem conservation under the Oceans Protection Plan, Budget 2018 announced a $167.4 million investment under the Whales Initiative to support the protection and recovery of SRKW, North Atlantic right whales and St. Lawrence Estuary belugas. On October 31, 2018, in response to the determination that SRKW face imminent threats to their survival, the Government of Canada announced an additional $61.5 million for further, targeted actions to support SRKW population recovery.Under these various initiatives, Transport Canada has been working with Indigenous groups, industry stakeholders, local communities, scientists, the whale watching community, environmental groups, and US partners to develop and implement concrete actions to reduce the threat of acoustic and physical disturbance caused by vessels of all sizes, including large commercial vessels, ferries, tugs, and smaller recreational and whale watching vessels. Many of these efforts align with the recommendations outlined in this petition. Specifically:
  • Boat-free zones: For the last two years, to maximize protections in three key foraging areas of the SRKW, Transport Canada   has implemented Interim Sanctuary Zones (ISZ) off Pender Island, Saturna Island and at Swiftsure Bank. No vessel traffic, including fishing, is permitted in these areas from June 1 to November 30, 2020, when SRKW are known to be present in the region, with specific exemptions for emergency purposes and Indigenous vessels. These zones are in addition to area-based fishery closures throughout critical habitat that further reduces physical disturbance from vessels, as well as reduces take of the primary food source for SRKW (chinook salmon). Discussions continue within the Sanctuaries Technical Working Group, a group composed of Indigenous representatives and stakeholders from a variety of sectors, to develop expert advice and recommendations, on the development of longer term sanctuary zones. 
 
  • Restrictions on viewing killer whales/increased approach distance: A number of measures have been introduced to address the viewing of SRKW and measures to take when in the presence of killer whales.
 
      • In 2018, the Marine Mammal Regulations (MMR) were amended to add new protections for marine mammals. These amendments clearly defined what constitutes a disturbance to marine mammals, which is prohibited under the MMR, including separating a marine mammal from its group or going between it and a calf. In addition, an increased approach distance was adopted for all killer whales on BC coastal waters to 200m.
 
      • In 2019, and again in 2020, based on the imminent threat facing the species, Transport Canada expanded on the requirements in the Marine Mammal Regulations by introducing an Interim Order that prohibits vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 400m.  In 2020 this measure is applicable in BC coastal waters between Campbell River to just north of Ucluelet and is in place year round. Whale watching and ecotourism companies that receive an authorization from the Minister of Transport are able to view all whales other than the SRKW from 200 m, given their expertise in differentiating between different types of killer whales. In order to receive this authorization, companies must sign an agreement with the Minister of Transport that commits them to not offering or promoting tours focused on SRKW, and to moving along quickly if they do come upon SRKW, while remaining 400m away.
 
      • In addition, for the last two years, all vessels are asked to reduce their speed to less than 7 knots, and all fish harvesters are asked to stop fishing, if they are within 1,000 metres of killer whales. This is intended to reduce engine noise and vessel wake, and reduce overall disturbance to the whales. Finally, if a vessel finds itself within the approach distance of a killer whale, vessel operators are asked to turn their engine to neutral, and all vessel operators are asked to turn off their echosounders when not in use and safe to do so.
 
    • Commercial whale-watching licensing regime: In line with steps being taken by the State of Washington, the Government of Canada is conducting preliminary analysis into the risks and benefits of commercial whale watching licensing as a potential tool to help address the threat of physical and acoustic disturbance to SRKW and other marine mammals.
    • Measures targeting large commercial vessels: The Government has been working with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) program since its inception in 2014 to address the issue of underwater noise from large commercial vessels transiting through the Salish Sea. In May 2019, the Government of Canada entered into a first-of-its-kind Species at Risk Act, Section 11 conservation agreement with Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Pacific Pilotage Authority and five marine transportation industry partners to support the recovery of the SRKW. The agreement formalizes the role of the ECHO Program and the participation of the marine industry and government to continue working collaboratively over a five-year term, with a focus on measures to reduce acoustic and physical disturbance of large commercial ships operating in SRKW critical habitat. The signed conservation agreement outlines specific commitments and actions under the agreement is publicly available on the Species at Risk Act public registry.
For the fourth year in a row the Government is working with the ECHO Program and its many advisors and partners to implement voluntary measures to reduce underwater noise contributions from large commercial vessels in SRKW critical habitat. This year’s efforts include the implementation of a voluntary vessel slowdown through Haro Strait and Boundary Pass (https://www.portvancouver.com/environment/water-land-wildlife/echo-program/projects/voluntary-vessel-slowdown-trial/), a lateral displacement in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and a voluntary vessel slowdown trial in Swiftsure Bank.:
    • This year, the slowdown in Haro Strait and Boundary Pass began on July 1st, when SRKW were spotted in Haro Strait. Trusted observers on Saturna Island and San Juan Island began monitoring for the whales on June 1. Over the last three years, participation in the voluntary slowdown in this area has increased from 60% in 2017 to 82% in 2019. The target in 2020 is for 85% or more participation. The results of the slowdown over the last 3 years have demonstrated impressive reductions in underwater noise through this important SRKW feeding corridor. Due to the fact the shipping lanes through Haro Strait and Boundary Pass are in both US and Canadian waters, implementing a mandatory slowdown in this area would be very challenging.
    • New for 2020, in an effort to reduce underwater noise in another key SRKW feeding area, an additional voluntary vessel slowdown trial is also planned in Swiftsure Bank. This slowdown trial will run from August 1 to October 31, and its implementation involves close collaboration with transboundary partners to coordinate the participation of un-piloted vessels leaving both Canadian and US ports.
    • The voluntary lateral displacement in the Strait of Juan de Fuca started June 1, with the goal of reducing underwater noise by moving inshore traffic further away from key SRKW foraging areas. This is the third year this measure has been put in place, with very positive results for reducing underwater noise in past years.
 
  • Supporting the development of quiet vessel technologies/designs: In 2019, Transport Canada launched the Quiet Vessel Initiative (QVI), a 5-year, $26 million program that is testing and evaluating the most promising technologies, designs, retrofits and operational practices to reduce underwater vessel noise. The goal of QVI is to advance the use of safe, environmentally-responsible, and effective low-noise technologies and operational practices through research and testing.  QVI is also funding the development of technologies to improve marine mammal detection in order to reduce the risks of vessel strikes. The Program launched a $21.1M call for research proposals on January 20, 2020, with contracts being awarded throughout Summer 2020.  A subsequent call for proposals is planned for Fall 2020. Results from these projects will drive the adoption of these quiet vessel innovations - domestically and internationally. In addition, for the last several years, Transport Canada has partnered with BC Ferries on research initiatives to assess the effectiveness of different technology solutions to reducing underwater noise. For example, Transport Canada is providing funding to BC Ferries to research optimal propeller designs to reduce underwater noise generated by ferries. 
  • Advancing Quiet Vessel Solutions Internationally:  An important element of the Government’s efforts to promote the adoption of quiet vessel technology is engagement through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Due to the global nature of shipping, the majority of vessels calling on Canada’s western ports are internationally flagged. As such, international action is essential to achieving success in advancing quiet vessel solutions. Canada has been advancing discussions at the IMO and within the international community since 2017, including hosting three international workshops, and supporting a number of collaborative studies and initiatives. In 2020, Canada tabled a proposal, co-sponsored by the United States and Australia, which seeks to add the issue of underwater noise and quiet vessel design to the workplan of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). Due to the current pandemic, the meeting of the MEPC has been postponed.
  • Increased resources for enforcement: The Whales Initiative and the additional funding for SRKW protection, included important investments to help Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Conservation and Protection (C&P) program increase its capacity to support on-water enforcement. It has also been able to increase its air surveillance over areas frequented by SRKW, have a second dedicated field unit and an increased complement of fishery officers dedicated to SRKW. In addition, Transport Canada and Parks Canada also received funding to increase capacity for enforcement, surveillance and monitoring. These investments allow for more consistent aerial and on-water coverage of the designated critical habitat in Canadian waters and help support the effective implementation of the measures being implemented.
In addition to the above actions, the Government has also been advancing research efforts to better understand the impacts of underwater noise on marine mammals, and to test and deploy technologies to better detect killer whales. For example, Transport Canada is providing funding to Ocean Wise to support the continued development of the WhaleReport Alert System, a real-time notification system for mariners on the water, as well as funded the deployment of a cabled underwater listening station (ULS) in Boundary Pass to collect real-time vessel source levels from both the inbound and outbound shipping lanes, as well as ambient noise and marine mammal calls.  Data collected from the ULS, as well as other hydrophones that are part of a network throughout the Salish Sea, will help the Government of Canada better understand the threats associated with commercial vessel related activities; the geographical overlap between ships and the SRKW; inform the development of mitigation and management measures to reduce potential impacts of shipping on marine mammals, based on the best scientific data available; and, assess the feasibility and effectiveness of quiet vessel technologies.Effective protection and recovery of the SRKW requires a long-term, coordinated and collective effort, led by both the Government of Canada and our partners. Our 2020 measures build on ones announced last year, and reflect advice from a number of sources, including the Sanctuaries Technical Working Group, the General Vessel Measures Technical Working Group, the Indigenous and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s ECHO program and coastal communities. Transport Canada looks forward to ongoing collaboration with all of its partners to continue to adapt and refine its efforts to reduce the key threats to this important species.
Endangered speciesEnvironmental protectionKiller whalesSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledSeptember 24, 2020431-00283431-00283 (Environment)PaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithGreen PartyBCJune 17, 2020September 24, 2020June 17, 2020PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLEDWe, the undersigned residents of the coast and islands of British Columbia draw the attention of the House to the following:THAT the native species of Orcinus orca (Southern and Northern Resident Killer Whales) which live in the waters off British Columbia and which have been declared threatened and endangered under Canada's Species At Risk Act, require immediate and vigorous protection in order to survive. Their population is dwindling while the threats against them (underwater engine noise and sonar from vessels, collisions with boat traffic, lack of prey due to salmon over-fishing and degradation of spawning rivers, and entanglement in lost fishing gear) are multiplying.THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon Parliament to strengthen the Killer Whale Recovery Plan required under the Species At Risk Act and administered by Parks Canada, by legally requiring reduction in underwater noise from commercial, recreational and transport vessels, limiting the amount of tanker and freighter traffic in the Salish Sea east and south of Vancouver Island, placing a moratorium on Chinook and herring sport, commercial and Native fisheries until stocks rebuild, and legally requiring electronic chip identifiers in and mandatory recovery of lost fishing gear drifting in the ocean.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanProtecting species at risk is a responsibility shared by all Canadians. The federal government is committed to working with all levels of government, Indigenous peoples, industry and environmental stakeholders, and with all Canadians in implementing the Species at Risk Act. The Government of Canada is committed to protecting and taking action to support the survival and recovery of the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale, which are listed as Threatened and Endangered, respectively under the Species at Risk Act. We share your concern regarding the variety of anthropogenic threats that these two populations face, including the principal threats of environmental contamination, reduced prey availability, and both physical and acoustic disturbance.Under the Species At Risk Act, the Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada (2008) identifies and describes the threats, critical habitat, recovery goal and objectives, and broad strategies to recover Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale populations. In 2018, the Recovery Strategy was amended to incorporate additional critical habitat areas for both populations, including waters of west Dixon Entrance, along the north coast of Graham Island from Langara to Rose Spit for Northern Resident Killer Whales and the waters on the continental shelf off southwestern Vancouver Island, including  Swiftsure and La Pérouse Banks, for both Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales. These critical habitat areas, as well as those previously identified, are legally protected from destruction. The Recovery Strategy is publicly available, please visit: https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/virtual_sara/files/plans/Rs-ResidentKillerWhale-v00-2018dec-Eng.pdf. In addition, a five-year report on the implementation of the recovery strategy was published in 2016 and a progress report for the subsequent five-year period (2015-2019) is currently being drafted. These  reports capture the progress made toward achieving the objectives set out in the recovery strategy, such as knowledge gained from increased monitoring and research on the sources and impacts of contaminants, expanded acoustic monitoring systems, cumulative effects, and enhanced management measures toward threat abatement. For more information please visit: https://sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/5yr-ResidentKillerWhale-v00-2016Sep28-Eng.pdf.The Action Plan for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in Canada (2017) includes 98 recovery measures that provide more detailed recovery planning actions to support the strategic direction set out in the Recovery Strategy. The Action Plan is also publicly available, please visit: https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/virtual_sara/files/plans/Ap-ResidentKillerWhale-v00-2017Mar-Eng.pdf. The implementation of the Action Plan is underway and the progress towards meeting its objectives are monitored and will be reported on in 2022.On May 7, 2020, the Minister of Transport, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced a suite of management measures for 2020 to protect the remaining 72 Southern Resident Killer Whales. The suite of measures builds on previous years’ management measures and is based on the best available science and input from the Southern Resident Killer Whale Indigenous and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group and Technical Working Groups, Indigenous groups, stakeholders, the public, and the governments of British Columbia (BC) and the United States. The 2020 management measures include: fishery closures; Interim Sanctuary Zones that prohibit vessels from entering those areas; an increase in the vessel approach distance from 200 metres to 400 metres for all killer whales; the implementation of voluntary slowdowns and the lateral displacement of large commercial vessel traffic in key areas; and comprehensive guidance on best practices for boaters in the presence of killer whales (e.g., turning off echo sounders, putting engines in neutral idle, ceasing fishing within 1000 metres of killer whales). DFO is also working with its federal partners to monitor the efficacy of these measures in reducing underwater noise through the collection of acoustic data from hydrophones placed at a number of locations within Resident Killer Whale habitat. For more information on these measures please visit: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/whales-baleines/srkw-measures-mesures-ers-eng.html.Numerous of the measures listed above have been developed to reduce underwater noise and reduce the potential impacts of vessel traffic in the Salish Sea. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) also works closely with partners to develop practices for the avoidance of Killer whales, such as the use of marine mammal observers on board vessels and technological solutions. To help improve boaters’ understanding of vessel behaviour around whales and support education to local boaters, Be Whale Wise, a Canada-US partnership of governmental agencies, non-profits and other stakeholders in the Salish Sea, researches, implements and educates best vessel practices around whales. The Be Whale Wise team helps create consistent messaging and education for vessel operators.Regarding the threat of entanglements, DFO works with external partners including Straitwatch, Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs), the wild capture fishing and aquaculture industries, and academia on a range of mitigation and response initiatives including education and outreach, surveillance, reporting, and response to incidents of entangled whales. DFO has also recently introduced the Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Support Contribution Program, which supports projects to retrieve or dispose of ghost gear, invest in innovative gear technology, and encourage international leadership (https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/ghostgear-equipementfantome/index-eng.html). In addition to the support for ghost gear removal and disposal projects, DFO implemented mandatory requirements in 2020 in commercial fisheries licences to report lost or retrieved fishing gear. For online reporting forms please visit: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/reporting-declaration-eng.html.DFO manages fisheries based on the Department’s Precautionary Approach to Fishery Decision-making, drawing on the best available science to  support the health and sustainability of stocks for the future. On June 19, 2020, my Department announced important measures  to support the recovery of Fraser River Chinook salmon stocks. For more information please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2020/06/government-of-canada-takes-action-to-address-threats-to-struggling-fraser-river-chinook.html. Moreover, the salmon fishery closures and Interim Sanctuary Zones for Southern Resident Killer Whales referenced above are specifically intended to support the availability of Chinook in key foraging areas for Southern Resident Killer Whales and reduce vessel disturbance. Longer term work to define and implement recovery measures for southern BC Chinook will continue to be advanced with input from the multi-sectoral Southern BC Chinook Planning Committee that my Department has convened to provide input on this topic.DFO recognizes that both Chinook and herring play important roles in the marine ecosystem. In addition to our Chinook recovery efforts, extensive work to evaluate and revise our herring management approach has also taken place over the last four years with input from First Nations, commercial fishers, and others. The 2019-20 Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan provides details on DFO’s management approach for this fishery and is publically available; please visit: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mplans/herring-hareng-ifmp-pgip-sm-eng.pdf. DFO continually adjusts its management measures for all of these stocks as new information about their status becomes available. 
Endangered speciesEnvironmental protectionKiller whalesSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledSeptember 24, 2020e-2342e-2342 (Fisheries)CatherineGrayGordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNDPBCDecember 13, 2019, at 10:27 a.m. (EDT)March 12, 2020, at 10:27 a.m. (EDT)June 17, 2020September 24, 2020March 12, 2020Petition to the <Addressee type="3" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Government of Canada</Addressee>Whereas:The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the Pacific herring population dropped by approximately 1/3 between 2016 and 2019, and will drop by more than 50% by 2020;The unexpected drop in the herring population has led to overfishing of existing stock;Pacific herring is the basis of the food web that supports salmon, killer and humpback whales, cod and halibut, seabirds and other independent species on the Pacific Coast; andFirst Nations have constitutionally protected rights to herring which are an important food source and an integral part of First Nations cultures.We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Suspend the 2020 Salish Sea herring fishery until a whole ecosystem plan is developed;2. Fairly compensate fishers for economic losses; and 3. Ensure that decisions are made with the full participation of First Nations and local communities.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanThe Government of Canada is committed to effectively managing Pacific herring fisheries through evidence-based decisions, ensuring the health and sustainability of these stocks into the future. We share your view that Pacific herring is an important source of food for many species on the Pacific coast and recognize that herring is an integral part of First Nations’ culture and that First Nations have priority access to herring for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, after conservation.Pacific herring are a forage fish species and as such, have large fluctuations in abundance, so a decline in biomass is not unexpected. Biomass forecasts are highly uncertain due to factors such as environmental conditions and predation, which vary from year to year. Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) harvest management approach is designed to account for this variability. The performance of this approach has been evaluated by DFO Science and subjected to scientific peer review through a process involving consultation between First Nations, fishery managers, scientists and industry stakeholders. The approach is designed to be very likely to avoid spawning biomass levels below an established limit reference point.Since the 2019-20 stock assessment shows that herring biomass in the Strait of Georgia is well above the limit reference point, the harvest level for the 2019-20 Strait of Georgia herring fishery was set at 10,895 metric tonnes, which was 20 per cent of the forecasted spawning biomass. This harvest level is considered precautionary, as it leaves 80 per cent of mature herring and all juvenile herring to support population and ecosystem processes such as food for salmon and marine mammals. The 2019-20 harvest level was reduced from previous years as a result of the lower biomass forecast.  This reduced allowable catch is consistent with the conservation goals of the management approach and provides opportunity for industry, including those First Nations that participate in the commercial fishery.The approach outlined above is detailed in the 2019-20 Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, which was developed following consultations with First Nations’ communities and organizations, and stakeholders such as commercial harvesters. The consultation process ensures that fishery management decisions are transparent, made with the best available science and informed by Indigenous, commercial harvester, and public considerations.
Fisheries and fishersHerringSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledApril 11, 2020431-00052431-00052 (Fisheries)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNDPBCFebruary 3, 2020April 11, 2020January 24, 2020Petition to the Government of CanadaWe, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following:
  • THAT the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the Pacific herring population dropped by approximately 1/3 between 2016 and 2019, and will drop by more than 50% by 2020;
  • THAT the unexpected drop in the herring population has led to overfishing of existing stock;
  • THAT Pacific herring is the basis of the food web that supports salmon, killer and humpback whales, cod and halibut, seabirds and other independent species on the Pacific coast;
  • THAT First Nations have constitutionally protected rights to herring which are an important food source and an integral part of First Nation cultures.
THEREFORE, we the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the government of Canada to suspend the 2020 Salish Sea herring fishery until a whole ecosystem plan is developed, to fairly compensate local fishers for economic losses, and to ensure that decisions are made with the full participation of First Nations and local communities.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanThe Government of Canada is committed to effectively managing Pacific herring fisheries through evidence-based decisions, ensuring the health and sustainability of these stocks into the future. We share your view that Pacific herring is an important source of food for many species on the Pacific coast and recognize that herring is an integral part of First Nations’ culture and that First Nations have priority access to herring for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, after conservation.Pacific herring are a forage fish species, and as such have large fluctuations in biomass abundance, and so a decline in biomass is not unexpected. Additionally, biomass forecasts are highly uncertain because factors such as environmental conditions and predation vary from year to year. DFO’s harvest management approach is designed to account for this variability. The performance of the approach has been evaluated by DFO Science and subjected to scientific peer review. The approach is designed to be very likely to avoid spawning biomass levels below a limit reference point.The harvest level for the 2019-20 Strait of Georgia herring fishery is 10,895 metric tonnes (harvest rate of 20 per cent of the forecasted spawning biomass). This maximum harvest level is considered precautionary, leaving 80 per cent of mature herring and all juveniles available to support future populations and ecosystem processes, such as food for salmon and marine mammals. The reduced allowable catch is consistent with the conservation goals of the management approach and provides opportunity for industry, including those First Nations that participate in the commercial fishery.The approach outlined above was detailed in the 2019-20 Pacific herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and released as draft from December 18, 2019 – January 17, 2020, for a 30-day consultation period with First Nations’ communities and organizations, and stakeholders such as commercial harvesters. The consultation process ensures that fishery management decisions are transparent, made with the best available science, and informed by Indigenous, commercial harvester, and public considerations.
Fisheries and fishersHerringSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledApril 11, 2020431-00091431-00091 (Fisheries)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNDPBCFebruary 19, 2020April 11, 2020January 7, 2020Petition to the Government of CanadaWe, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following:
  • THAT the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the Pacific herring population dropped by approximately 1/3 between 2016 and 2019, and will drop by more than 50% by 2020;
  • THAT the unexpected drop in the herring population has led to overfishing of existing stock;
  • THAT Pacific herring is the basis of the food web that supports salmon, killer and humpback whales, cod and halibut, seabirds and other independent species on the Pacific coast;
  • THAT First Nations have constitutionally protected rights to herring which are an important food source and an integral part of First Nation cultures.
THEREFORE, we the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the government of Canada to suspend the 2020 Salish Sea herring fishery until a whole ecosystem plan is developed, to fairly compensate local fishers for economic losses, and to ensure that decisions are made with the full participation of First Nations and local communities.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanThe Government of Canada is committed to effectively managing Pacific herring fisheries through evidence-based decisions, ensuring the health and sustainability of these stocks into the future. We share your view that Pacific herring is an important source of food for many species on the Pacific coast and recognize that herring is an integral part of First Nations’ culture and that First Nations have priority access to herring for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, after conservation.Pacific herring are a forage fish species, and as such have large fluctuations in biomass abundance, and so a decline in biomass is not unexpected. Additionally, biomass forecasts are highly uncertain because factors such as environmental conditions and predation vary from year to year. DFO’s harvest management approach is designed to account for this variability. The performance of the approach has been evaluated by DFO Science and subjected to scientific peer review. The approach is designed to be very likely to avoid spawning biomass levels below a limit reference point.The harvest level for the 2019-20 Strait of Georgia herring fishery is 10,895 metric tonnes (harvest rate of 20 per cent of the forecasted spawning biomass). This maximum harvest level is considered precautionary, leaving 80 per cent of mature herring and all juveniles available to support future populations and ecosystem processes, such as food for salmon and marine mammals. The reduced allowable catch is consistent with the conservation goals of the management approach and provides opportunity for industry, including those First Nations that participate in the commercial fishery.The approach outlined above was detailed in the 2019-20 Pacific herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and released as draft from December 18, 2019 – January 17, 2020, for a 30-day consultation period with First Nations’ communities and organizations, and stakeholders such as commercial harvesters. The consultation process ensures that fishery management decisions are transparent, made with the best available science, and informed by Indigenous, commercial harvester, and public considerations.
Fisheries and fishersHerringSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledApril 11, 2020431-00101431-00101 (Fisheries)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNDPBCFebruary 24, 2020April 11, 2020February 4, 2020Petition to the Government of CanadaWe, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following:
  • THAT the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the Pacific herring population dropped by approximately 1/3 between 2016 and 2019, and will drop by more than 50% by 2020;
  • THAT the unexpected drop in the herring population has led to overfishing of existing stock;
  • THAT Pacific herring is the basis of the food web that supports salmon, killer and humpback whales, cod and halibut, seabirds and other independent species on the Pacific coast;
  • THAT First Nations have constitutionally protected rights to herring which are an important food source and an integral part of First Nation cultures.
THEREFORE, we the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the government of Canada to suspend the 2020 Salish Sea herring fishery until a whole ecosystem plan is developed, to fairly compensate local fishers for economic losses, and to ensure that decisions are made with the full participation of First Nations and local communities.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanThe Government of Canada is committed to effectively managing Pacific herring fisheries through evidence-based decisions, ensuring the health and sustainability of these stocks into the future. We share your view that Pacific herring is an important source of food for many species on the Pacific coast and recognize that herring is an integral part of First Nations’ culture and that First Nations have priority access to herring for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, after conservation.Pacific herring are a forage fish species, and as such have large fluctuations in biomass abundance, and so a decline in biomass is not unexpected. Additionally, biomass forecasts are highly uncertain because factors such as environmental conditions and predation vary from year to year. DFO’s harvest management approach is designed to account for this variability. The performance of the approach has been evaluated by DFO Science and subjected to scientific peer review. The approach is designed to be very likely to avoid spawning biomass levels below a limit reference point.The harvest level for the 2019-20 Strait of Georgia herring fishery is 10,895 metric tonnes (harvest rate of 20 per cent of the forecasted spawning biomass). This maximum harvest level is considered precautionary, leaving 80 per cent of mature herring and all juveniles available to support future populations and ecosystem processes, such as food for salmon and marine mammals. The reduced allowable catch is consistent with the conservation goals of the management approach and provides opportunity for industry, including those First Nations that participate in the commercial fishery.The approach outlined above was detailed in the 2019-20 Pacific herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and released as draft from December 18, 2019 – January 17, 2020, for a 30-day consultation period with First Nations’ communities and organizations, and stakeholders such as commercial harvesters. The consultation process ensures that fishery management decisions are transparent, made with the best available science, and informed by Indigenous, commercial harvester, and public considerations.
Fisheries and fishersHerringSalish Sea
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledMarch 11, 2020431-00039431-00039 (Fisheries)GordJohnsCourtenay—AlberniNDPBCJanuary 27, 2020March 11, 2020January 7, 2020Petition to the Government of CanadaWe, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following:
  • THAT the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the Pacific herring population dropped by approximately 1/3 between 2016 and 2019, and will drop by more than 50% by 2020;
  • THAT the unexpected drop in the herring population has led to overfishing of existing stock;
  • THAT Pacific herring is the basis of the food web that supports salmon, killer and humpback whales, cod and halibut, seabirds and other independent species on the Pacific coast;
  • THAT First Nations have constitutionally protected rights to herring which are an important food source and an integral part of First Nation cultures.
THEREFORE, we the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the government of Canada to suspend the 2020 Salish Sea herring fishery until a whole ecosystem plan is developed, to fairly compensate local fishers for economic losses, and to ensure that decisions are made with the full participation of First Nations and local communities.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Bernadette JordanThe Government of Canada is committed to effectively managing the Pacific herring fisheries through evidence-based decisions, ensuring the health and sustainability of these stocks into the future. We share your view that Pacific herring is an important source of food for many species on the Pacific coast and recognize that herring is an integral part of First Nations’ culture and that First Nations have priority access to herring for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, after conservation.Pacific herring are a forage fish species, and as such share the prevalent population dynamic of large fluctuations in biomass abundance, and so a decline in biomass is not unexpected. Additionally, forecasts are highly uncertain because factors such as environmental conditions and predation vary from year to year. DFO’s harvest management approach is designed to account for this variability. The performance of the approach has been evaluated by DFO Science and subjected to scientific peer review. The approach is designed to be very likely to avoid spawning biomass levels below a limit reference point.The harvest level for the 2019-20 Strait of Georgia herring fishery is 10,895 metric tonnes (harvest rate of 20 per cent of the forecasted spawning biomass). The allowable catch has been reduced by more than 50 per cent from the 2018-19 fishing season in response to the lower stock forecast for 2020. This maximum harvest level is considered precautionary, leaving 80 per cent of mature herring and all juveniles available to support future populations and ecosystem processes, such as food for salmon and marine mammals. The reduced allowable catch is consistent with the conservation goals of the management approach and provides opportunity for industry, including those First Nations that participate in the commercial fishery.The approach outlined above was detailed in the 2019-20 Pacific herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and released as draft from December 18, 2019 – January 17, 2020, for a 30-day consultation period with First Nations’ communities and organizations, and stakeholders such as commercial harvesters. The consultation process ensures that fishery management decisions are transparent, made with the best available science, and informed by Indigenous, commercial harvester, and public considerations.
Fisheries and fishersHerringSalish Sea