• 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• The government should act to review and rewrite outdated statutes, take rapid action on national and international commitments, curtail the discretionary powers of the minister of Fisheries and Oceans and move to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.

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

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.

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.

Darkblotched Rockfish (Sebastes crameri) has been recently assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as being of "Special Concern."

For more information or to submit comments on its potential SARA listing, please see http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/saraconsultations. Comments due by November 30, 2011.

If you have any questions, please call Caroline Wells at (604) 666-7907 or email sara@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

The consultation period for the draft Canada-BC MPA Network Strategy will run until September 16, 2011. Your input at this stage is very important as it will be used by government staff to help revise the draft Strategy.

For full details see http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/oceans/canada-bc/index-eng.htm.

The pink salmon fishery was recently certified as “sustainable” by the Marine Stewardship Council, a designation that should not be allowed to stand if current fishing practices persist.

Click here for the full media release, backgrounder and associated news stories.

Please note that version 5 of the assessment report has been posted on the MSC web site.

Following a 30 day period of comment on the Draft Report, the independent Governing Board of the certification body for the above fishery, Moody Marine Ltd, has reviewed the report of the assessment team, the reports of the peer reviewers and all stakeholder comments.

The Determination reached by the certification body is that the BRITISH COLUMBIA HOOK & LINE SPINY DOGFISH FISHERY SHOULD be certified according to the MSC Principles and Criteria.

There is now a 15 working day period (until 19 August) during which any party that disagrees with this determination may send a written statement of intent to lodge an objection.

For more information, see other Salmon Leaks posts:

• Salmon Leaks: Backgrounder
• Salmon Leaks Part 1: The Beginning
• Salmon Leaks Part 2: Additional Highlights from 2010
• Salmon Leaks Part 3: Ringing in 2011 with Harvest Management
• Salmon Leaks Part 4: Inquiry Digs Deeper into Fishing
• Salmon Leaks Part 5: Expert Reports on Climate Change and Habitat
• Salmon Leaks Part 6: A thorough cross-examination of DFO’s Regional Director of Science—Dr. Laura Richards
• Salmon Leaks Part 7: DFO habitat management and enforcement panel