The expert-panel report for the Royal Society of Canada Sustaining Canada’s Marine Biodiversity: Responding to the Challenges Posed by Climate Change, Fisheries, and Aquaculture was released today and contained the following main messages:

• Canada sees itself as a world leader in ocean management, but we have failed to meet most of our national and international commitments to protect marine biodiversity.
• Canada lags behind other modernized nations in almost every aspect of fisheries management. Despite pledges on conservation and sound policies, Fisheries and Oceans has generally done a poor job of managing fish stocks, planning for whole ecosystems and protecting marine biodiversity.
• The government should act to review and rewrite outdated statutes, take rapid action on national and international commitments, curtail the discretionary powers of the minister of Fisheries and Oceans and move to limit regulatory conflict in that department.
• Canada needs national operational objectives to protect and restore natural diversity and to rebuild depleted populations and species. Improving and protecting ocean health will restore the natural resilience of Canada’s marine ecosystems to adapt in response to the challenges posed by climate change and other human activities.

Also see the The Vancouver Sun article Canada must act decisively to protect marine biodiversity: report, for more information on this new report.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) invites you to participate in consultations on the development of the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale Action Plan. DFO is interested in your feedback as it develops and prioritizes actions in support of recovery of Resident Killer Whale populations in Canadian Pacific waters.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is required to develop a recovery strategy and action plan for all threatened or endangered aquatic species listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), and appreciates your input.  Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales are listed as Threatened and Endangered respectively, and a recovery strategy for these populations is posted on the SARA National Registry: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=699

If you would like to know more about the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whale populations and how their recovery may affect you, or if you would like to provide comments on the draft actions supporting recovery of these populations, DFO will be conducting meetings during the month of February (open house from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm; public meeting from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm).      

February 2, 2012        Victoria, BC                The Maritime Museum of BC
February 9, 2012        Vancouver, BC           Vancouver Maritime Museum
February 23, 2012      Port Hardy, BC          Quarterdeck Inn Marina Resort  

Please see http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/sara-lep/index-eng.htm for further information, or contact DFO directly at the numbers below. 

Sheila Thornton
SARA Recovery Planner
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200-401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4
Tel: 604-666-2043
Fax: 604-666-3341

Paul Cottrell
Marine Mammal Coordinator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200-401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4
Tel: 604-666-9965
Fax: 604-666-3341

Centre for Dialogue, SFU Vancouver, Asia Pacific Hall, Room 100
580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

A free presentation featuring the findings of the Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel on Sustaining Canada’s Marine Biodiversity: Responding to the Challenges Posed by Climate Change, Fisheries, and Aquaculture. Presented by Dr. Jeff Hutchings (Dalhousie University), Chair of the Expert Panel and panelists Dr. Brian Riddell (Pacific Salmon Foundation) and Randall Peterman (Simon Fraser University).

This lecture is co-­-hosted by the Centre for Coastal Science and Management and Continuing Studies in Science and Environment in the Faculties of Environment and Science at Simon Fraser University in partnership with the Shorefast Foundation.

This presentation is free and open to the public but reservations are recommended as seating is limited. To reserve a seat, visit www.sfu.ca/reserve.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is seeking feedback their approach to fisheries modernization in order to consider it in future policy development.

Until February 29, 2012, visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada's website (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca) to review their discussion document, draft policies and presentations related to the renewal and modernization of commercial fisheries management in Canada, and provide your comments and views. Topics include:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s long-term approach to commercial fisheries management through the stabilization of sharing arrangements and the use of multi-year Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMPs) based on multi-year science advice;
• The new Draft Policy Framework on Managing Bycatch and Discards, and background on two new sustainability tools: the Precautionary Approach Framework Rebuilding Plan Guidelines and the Benthic Ecological Risk Analysis Framework, and how they are to be used.
• How to realize a nationally consistent approach to fisheries management which includes a streamlined set of rules and management measures in order create a business environment conducive to economic prosperity in the 21st century.

You may provide feedback on the online form at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by emailing DFO at consultations@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Telefilm Canada, through the Theatrical Documentary Program presents The Whale, November 18-24 at Empire Granville 7 Cinemas, 855 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC.  For complete details, visit www.thewhalemovie.com.