As per the information available in the press communiqué the lower than expected returns in certain West Coast salmon runs have generated significant interest and concern in the Department and among all Canadians. Several questions have been raised about DFO’s commitment to funding research and sustainable fisheries, particularly the Fraser River sockeye.
It is told that the main priority of DFO is the conservation and long-term sustainability of sockeye in managing the fishery. Accordingly, the Department has annually invested significant funds to carry out vital scientific research and monitoring. The records of seven year annual expenditures for West Coast Salmon Research reflects a sustained and consistent level of federal funding, and was preceded by a significant, five-year federal aid program the Department introduced in 1998 to aid fisheries on both the West and East Coasts.
It is informed that the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring (CFAR) program was established to restore the health of Canada’s Pacific salmon fisheries through a $400 million investment for the West Coast. DFO continues to monitor the situation closely and will work with the Pacific Salmon Commission and the Fraser River Panel to support the conservation and sustainable use of this resource.
