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CONSULTATIONS TO BEGIN ON WILD SALMON POLICY
VANCOUVER – The Honourable Geoff Regan, the Minister of
Fisheries and Oceans, announced today that a revised Wild Salmon
Policy (WSP) for British Columbia and Yukon is being presented
to First Nations, stakeholders, environmental groups and the
public for review and comment.
“The Wild Salmon Policy proposes a more proactive,
forward-looking approach for the conservation of Pacific
salmon,” said Minister Regan. “It is intended to restore and
maintain healthy and diverse salmon populations and their
habitat for the benefit and enjoyment of Canadians in
perpetuity.”
The draft policy is founded on the need to safeguard genetic
diversity of wild salmon, maintain habitat and ecosystem
integrity, and manage fisheries for sustainable benefits. The
approach sets clear conservation goals, develops comprehensive
strategies for achieving these goals and describes actions to
anticipate and address future pressures on wild salmon.
The policy also addresses recent recommendations to improve
management of Pacific salmon. It would build on and consolidate
other initiatives currently underway to reform and renew salmon
management and conservation.
Managing Pacific salmon requires tough choices that consider all
interests and consequences. Resolving these issues cannot be
done by governments and scientists alone – decisions must be
informed by scientific advice and reflect public values.
“A key consideration of the policy is to find the appropriate
balance among social, economic and biological benefits and
risks, in order to make the right decisions. Canadians with an
interest in Pacific salmon must be engaged in selecting the most
appropriate actions,” Minister Regan said.
The policy recommends decision-making processes that are open
and transparent, involve a full range of public interests, and
meet the needs of wild salmon with considerations of related
interests. Decision-making would link planning and actions among
harvest, habitat and watershed management; salmon enhancement
and scientific research to achieve short and long-term
objectives for salmon populations. A five-stage planning process
is recommended.
Developing the policy has been a challenging, time-consuming and
complex task. In addition to the complexity of managing salmon
fisheries, the implementation of the Species at Risk Act and the
Oceans Act introduced new complexities to resource management
that had to be fully considered.
The WSP proposes to maintain the genetic diversity of wild
salmon by identifying and protecting conservation units (CUs). A
CU is a group of wild salmon that, if lost, could not be
replaced through natural processes within a reasonable
timeframe. The status of CUs, their habitat and ecosystems would
be monitored and assessed. Indicators of ecosystem health would
also be developed.
Where monitoring and assessment indicates low or declining
abundance, a full range of management actions – including
habitat, enhancement and harvest measures – would be considered
to address the concerns.
The current document builds on previous consultations in 2000 on
a draft WSP discussion paper. The challenge of developing a Wild
Salmon Policy was highlighted by the wide range of input
received in the 2000 consultations. While there was strong
support for conservation of genetic diversity and habitat, some
participants expressed support for increased conservation
measures, while some were concerned that their access to salmon
would be too limited.
The Department will present the revised policy in briefings and
information sessions with First Nations and key stakeholder
groups in the new year. A multi-interest dialogue forum with
representatives from a broad range of stakeholders, First
Nations, environmental groups, communities and interested
parties will be held to seek input and advice.
“I have asked for recommendations with an eye to finalizing the
policy as soon as possible,” said Minister Regan. “However, it
will not be finalized until Canadians have a chance to comment
over a 60-day period.”
All interested parties are invited to comment on the policy
through written submissions. The policy and consultation details
can be found on the DFO website, at:
http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pages/consultations/wsp/default_e.htm.
Comments can be submitted to the Department through this
website, by e-mail, fax or mail.
The WSP is part of a series of policies under New Direction for
Canada’s Pacific Salmon Fisheries, which includes policies on
fisheries allocation, selective fishing and improved
decision-making.
Work has also begun on the development of a complementary policy
framework for the conservation of wild salmon on Canada’s
Atlantic Coast. The framework’s principal goal will be to
restore and sustainably manage diverse salmon populations and
their habitat. Interested parties and stakeholders will be
engaged in the development of a vision for the future of wild
Atlantic salmon.
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Please note:
For a summary of key aspects of the WSP, please see the
media backgrounder.
For further information:
Carrie Mishima
Commmunications
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(604) 666-0392
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