Key contacts, fast facts and media lines

Platform commitments

Fast facts: Canadian marine sector

• Marine sectors contributed $30 billion or 1.5 per cent to Canada’s GDP in 2015
• Fisheries (harvest, processing and aquaculture)
  contributed $8.7 billion
• In 2015 marine industries supported 323,582 jobs (1.8 per cent of employment) throughout Canada’s economy
• The blue/ocean economy estimated economic annual value is $2.5 trillion. It is the 7th largest economy in the world in terms of GDP, and 90 per cent of world trade is by sea
• The ocean economy is expected to more than double by 2030
• The United States is Canada’s largest export market for fish and seafood, accounting for 62 per cent of our exports by value, or $4.3 billion in 2018
• The Canadian Coast Guard supports Canada’s ocean economy by enabling the safe and efficient flow of $251 billion in marine trade, and the handling of more than 342 million tonnes of critical goods
• Fish and seafood are among the largest single food commodities exported by Canada
• Canada’s most valuable exports by species in 2018 were lobster ($2 billion), Atlantic salmon ($971 million), snow and queen crab ($886 million), and shrimp ($468 million)
• In 2018, these species represented almost two- thirds of the total export value and nearly half of the total volume of fish and seafood exports
• Lobster remains Canada’s most valuable export species, worth over $2 billion in 2018

Fast facts: Canadian fisheries

Corporate facts

• DFO has more than 12,000 employees, approximately 6,000 of which are Coast Guard personnel
• There are over 350 work locations across the country; over 75 per cent of employees work outside the National Capital Region
• In addition to the National Capital Region, DFO is comprised of seven regions (Pacific; Central; Arctic; Quebec; Newfoundland and Labrador; Gulf; and Maritimes), while the Coast Guard is comprised of four regions (Western; Central; Arctic and Atlantic)
• The Department is managing a 2019-20 budget of approximately $3.8 billion distributed across the country, and has the second largest asset base of any federal department, valued at $44.6 billion
• DFO has one of the largest federal property portfolios, with over 85 per cent of capital budget investments in the Coast Guard fleet, small craft harbours and real property
• Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue resources across Canada include:
  • 3 Joint Rescue Coordination Centres
  • 2 Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres
  • 42 search and rescue stations
  • 26 seasonal in-shore rescue boat stations
  • 1 hovercraft station
  • 1 dive team
• There are approximately 2,000 employees in DFO Science, and 12 National Science facilities across the country
• A total of 680 fishery officers are stationed in 106 locations across the country
• DFO manages over 200 fisheries on three coasts

Scrum issues – Media lines

• Indigenous Moderate Livelihood
• North Atlantic right whales
• Arctic surf clam
• Big Bar landslide
• Pacific salmon
• Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX)
• Ocean Plastic Pollution
• Indigenous Reconciliation
• Aquaculture
  • Salmon Mortalities
  • Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV)
• Canadian Coast Guard
  • Renewal of the Coast Guard Fleet
  • Polar Icebreaker
  • Program Icebreakers/ Third Shipyard
• Marine Conservation
  • Marine Conservation Targets
  • Standards for Marine Protected Areas
  • Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest

Indigenous moderate livelihood

Issue: Tensions between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous harvesters in southwest Nova Scotia’s lobster fishery have existed for some time. In the fall of 2019, the Listiguj (Quebec) and Sipekne’katik (Nova Scotia) First Nations announced intentions to sell lobster under their Treaty Right to a moderate livelihood. These are considered unauthorized fisheries, as neither has an agreement with DFO for a commercial fishery. On October 12, 2019 an Indigenous commercial fishing vessel belonging to Membertou First Nation was set on fire in Cape Breton. Police are investigating.

Media lines:

• DFO works with Indigenous organizations, industry groups, and individual harvesters to ensure compliance with the Fisheries Act and regulations, and for peaceful and orderly fisheries that are accessible to all licence holders
• We will continue to monitor all unauthorized fisheries, and will work with all harvesters to ensure that the Fisheries Act and regulations are followed, and also that Indigenous fishing rights are respected
• The safety and security of all harvesters is our first priority

North Atlantic Right Whales

Issue: 2019 is the third year the Government of Canada has implemented specific measures to help protect North Atlantic right whales. The suite of measures is focused on preventing entanglements through targeted closures to snow crab and lobster fisheries. These measures support our compliance with import provisions of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which aims to reduce marine mammal bycatch in foreign commercial fishing. To maintain access to the U.S. market, all exporting nations must demonstrate that they have a regulatory program in place that meets or exceeds U.S. standards for mitigating harm to marine mammals caused by fishing activity.

Media lines:

• We are committed to taking all necessary actions to help protect North Atlantic right whales from further harm
• Our fisheries management measures aim to protect endangered whales from harm and at the same time minimize possible market impacts to industry and coastal communities
• The measures take into account the best available science and input from provincial governments, Indigenous communities, academia, non- governmental organizations and other stakeholders
• DFO will continue to work cooperatively with Canadian industry and with U.S. counterparts to ensure Canada is able to meet new U.S. import provisions and avoid any potential impact to the sector in this important trade relationship

Arctic Surf Clam

Issue: In September 2017, the then-Minister (LeBlanc) announced the intention to introduce a fourth licence for Arctic surf clam representing 25 per cent of the total allowable catch for that fishery (the three issues licences at this time were held by Clearwater Seafoods). In February 2018, a new licence was announced for the Five Nations Clam Company. In July 2018, this issuance of a fourth surf clam licence was cancelled. In August 2018, DFO began developing a plan to launch a new expression of interest to engage an independent third party to assess submissions based on criteria that includes specific and significant benefits for Indigenous communities and the proponent’s readiness to proceed with the fishery in 2020. On March 11, 2019, Clearwater and 14 First Nations in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland reached a 50-year partnership agreement.

Media lines:

• DFO remains committed to enhancing access to the Arctic surf clam fishery in a way that broadens the distribution of socioeconomic benefits from this public resource and advancing reconciliation
• In this respect, DFO will take the time needed to both evaluate the Clearwater proposal and consider options moving forward

Big Bar Landslide

Issue: DFO was notified of a landslide near Big Bar, British Columbia (B.C.) on June 23, 2019 and investigated this remote area of the Fraser River on June 25. The Big Bar Incident Command Post was set up on June 29 in Lillooet, B.C. with experts and response specialists from the Government of Canada, the Province of B.C. and First Nations.

Media lines:

• Sustained efforts are ongoing to reduce the impact of the landslide on future salmon stocks
• Restoring natural fish passage in the area, as well as worker and public safety, remain a top priority for DFO
• In early September, due to the efforts of rock scaling crews to manipulate rock and to the lower water levels at the slide site, salmon achieved some natural fish passage. This means some salmon are swimming through the slide without assistance
• We are closely tracking the continued migration of the sockeye, Chinook and pink salmon that have been successfully passing the slide
• Natural fish passage remains the best way to ensure the maximum number of salmon are able to reach their spawning grounds next spring
• The majority of the salmon run is expected to be completed in October, with smaller numbers continuing to migrate upstream through November and December

Pacific Salmon

Issue: Significant Chinook salmon harvest reductions were implemented for 2019-20 to conserve endangered and threatened Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern. Numerous B.C. Chinook stocks have been in decline for many years, resulting in significant conservation concerns for both the Chinook stocks and other species that rely on them as a key food source, including Southern Resident killer whales. Some are calling this the worst commercial fishing season in 50 years and are calling on the federal and provincial governments for financial relief.

Media lines:

• Over the past 50 years, the world’s wildlife populations have declined by 60 per cent. In Canada, 521 species have been identified as being at risk. Recent assessments for Chinook salmon from the Fraser River system have found Chinook are also in danger of disappearing from Canada
• The challenges facing at-risk Fraser River Chinook salmon stocks are multi-faceted. The road to recovery requires a long-term view and the collaboration of all interested parties. Pacific Salmon
• The fisheries management decisions for Chinook salmon in 2019 were designed to create an environment that will lead to improved salmon populations, and help encourage the return of healthy and abundant salmon runs in the future

If pressed on calls for financial assistance:

• I will work with my department as well as Employment and Social Development Canada to ensure that they continue to discuss all options to address the economic concerns on the West Coast in relation to the salmon fishery

Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX)

Issue: DFO issued a Fisheries Act authorization on September 12, 2019, to Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (the Proponent) for the construction of the Westridge Marine Terminal expansion in Burrard Inlet, B.C., part of the TMX Project. Construction of the terminal expansion will increase the berthing capacity and tanker traffic calling at the terminal from five tankers per month to 34 tankers per month. With this authorization, the Proponent has re-started construction work in the marine area of the Westridge Marine Terminal water lot.

Media lines:

• Following a rigorous and thorough review of the Proponent’s application, DFO issued an authorization under the Fisheries Act for work related to the expansion of the Westridge Marine Terminal
• DFO consulted 33 potentially affected Indigenous groups on the proposed works, undertakings, and activities associated with the Westridge Marine Terminal expansion
• As part of the authorization, the proponent must adhere to conditions to avoid, mitigate, and offset impacts to fish and fish habitat
• DFO will conduct monthly on-site inspections at the Westridge Marine Terminal with Indigenous monitors from the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee to verify compliance with the conditions of the authorization and the Fisheries Act

Ocean plastic pollution

Issue: More than eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans each year, where they endanger marine life and pollute ecosystems. Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (sometimes known as ghost gear) is a major contributor to plastic marine debris. DFO is responsible for safeguarding our waters and plays a role in addressing this issue in support of the Government of Canada’s broader efforts to tackle plastic pollution (led by Environment and Climate Change Canada).

Media lines:

• The Government of Canada is committed to working with global partners, industry and communities to find real solutions to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans
• Canada is taking a leadership role to improve the health and sustainability of our oceans by reducing marine litter and plastic pollution
• DFO is leading by example. We became the first federal department to put in place a policy to curb the purchase and use of single-use plastics
• We are also working with the fisheries and aquaculture industry to prevent and remove ghost gear through a new Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Program
• Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program, we also challenged small businesses across Canada to find innovative ways to prevent plastic waste from entering our aquatic environments, to help clean up our oceans and waterways and to minimize impacts of marine debris and ghost gear

Indigenous reconciliation

Issue: DFO recognizes that fisheries, oceans, aquatic habitat and marine waterways are of great social, cultural, spiritual and economic importance to many Indigenous peoples. For this reason, we have a key role in the transformation of the Government of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples.

Media lines:

• The Government of Canada is working with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation towards the development of a Recognition and Implementation of Rights Framework
• DFO has, in partnership with Indigenous communities, been putting in place relevant programs as part of our commitment to renewing our relationship with Indigenous peoples
• Our shared goal is to build a future in which Indigenous peoples in Canada set their own aspirations, visions and priorities for the well-being of their communities
• In June 2019, the modernized Fisheries Act received Royal Assent. The Act makes clear that it is meant to uphold the rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Under the revised Act, Indigenous traditional knowledge, when provided, must inform habitat decisions
• DFO has also developed an inward facing, whole- of-department, long-term approach to advancing meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples

Salmon mortalities in Newfoundland

Issue: High levels of salmon mortalities occurred at the Northern Harvest aquaculture site in Fortune Bay, Newfoundland. Provincial veterinarians concluded warm water temperatures caused the die-off. Cleanup is the responsibility of the company and during this process organic fish material is being pumped back into the ocean.

Media lines:

• I understand and share the public’s concern about the ongoing clean-up, particularly concerning potential impacts to fish and fish habitat
• DFO continues to monitor the situation and the company’s clean up efforts
• In Newfoundland and Labrador, aquaculture is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments

Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV)

Issue: In February 2019, the Federal Court ordered DFO to review its PRV policy. After a review and analysis of all relevant information, DFO communicated its decision that testing for PRV-1 is not required to the Namgis First Nation and Alexandra Morton, the parties who filed the legal challenge. There is extensive regional media interest in this issue.

Media lines:

• After thorough consideration and analysis, DFO has determined that testing for PRV-1, a B.C. strain, is not required in order to authorize an introduction or transfer licence
• This decision is based on the best available current information and science
• There is active work, further engagement and advice expected, which will inform our approach to managing PRV in the coming months and beyond
• DFO uses an adaptive management approach to aquaculture. This approach allows for adjustments as new results or information becomes available
• We believe this is the right decision based on the current information. However, DFO will continue to assess this evolving issue and actively consider new science information as it becomes available
• In November, Namgis First Nation filed an application for judicial review on the recent PRV decision

Renewal of the Coast Guard Fleet

Issue: The Government of Canada is investing in up to 18 large ships for the Canadian Coast Guard. The National Shipbuilding Strategy has faced criticism over the years, largely focused on the procurement process and the slow pace of getting large vessels built. Concerns have been raised in the public about the cost of building new ships, the amount of time it takes and the capacity of the current fleet to continue to deliver services until new vessels are built.

Media lines:

• The new ships will significantly recapitalize the fleet, provide crews with state of the art tools and preserve the world class marine safety regime that Canada enjoys
• This strengthening of the National Shipbuilding Strategy will help sustain economic growth, keep waterways safe and support the shipping industry
• The 18 large ships will ensure the Canadian Coast Guard has the tools and equipment they need to do their jobs. These ships will operate in all parts of the country
• The Coast Guard will continue to deliver services to Canadians who depend on them for essential supplies, science missions and providing mariners with support in the most challenging of environments

Polar Icebreaker

Issue: The new Polar icebreaker will replace the CCGS Louis S. St. Laurent in the Arctic and will serve as the Canadian Coast Guard’s flagship and a symbol of Canada’s sovereignty in the North. Concerns have been raised in the public environment about the current procurement strategy, expected delivery date and impacts to Coast Guard operations until the new vessel is delivered.

Media lines:

• The Polar Class icebreaker will be an important asset for the Coast Guard’s Arctic program
• It will strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to: support Arctic science, patrol in increasingly unpredictable ice conditions, support Arctic communities, and protect Canada’s sovereignty and national interests in the Arctic
• Coast Guard is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada to explore procurement options to expedite delivery of the Polar icebreaker
• The delivery date for the Polar icebreaker will be identified as the project gets underway
• The current budget for the Polar icebreaker is $1.3 billion

Program icebreakers / third shipyard

Issue: The Government of Canada is investing in six program icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. Additionally, Canada has launched a competitive process to add a third Canadian shipyard as a strategic partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This new shipyard, which has yet to be selected, will build the new program icebreakers for the Coast Guard.

Media lines:

• The Government of Canada is investing in the construction of six new program icebreakers to renew the Coast Guard’s fleet of icebreakers
• The new program icebreakers will ensure the Coast Guard has the vessels needed to continue to provide critical icebreaking services that Canadians rely on
• This includes ensuring marine safety, supporting the shipping industry with the flow of goods on our waters and resupplying northern communities
• The program icebreakers will provide icebreaking capacity in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence waterways, the Great Lakes region, as well as the Arctic, to ensure that Canada’s maritime economy remains open for business year-round and to meet overall increasing demands for icebreaking services
• Specific delivery dates for the new vessels will be negotiated once a shipyard has been selected. • The cost of the vessels will be determined following contract negotiations with the selected shipyard

Marine conservation targets

Issue: At the 2010 Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Aichi, Japan, the Government of Canada agreed to meet 20 global biodiversity targets by 2020. Aichi Target 11 stated that by 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance to biodiversity and ecosystem services, would be protected.

Media lines:

• Nearly 14 per cent of Canada’s marine and coastal areas has been protected – exceeding our target of protecting 10 per cent of Canada’s marine and coastal areas by 2020
• Marine conservation plays an important role in ensuring our oceans are healthy and sustainable for the benefit of Canadians
• The Government of Canada has worked closely with its provincial and territorial partners, Indigenous communities and marine industries to achieve a balance between protecting marine ecosystems and maintaining a prosperous economy
• We will continue to work with our international and domestic partners to on the best way forward

Standards for Marine Protected Areas

Issue: In April 2019, DFO announced new protection standards for marine protected areas based on the final report from the National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area (MPA) Standards. The report outlines 13 recommendations that address the themes of Collaborative Planning and Design, Crown-Indigenous Relations, Protection Standards and Marine Spatial Planning. The Panel’s recommendations were informed by standards and guidelines from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, reports from the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and the views of Canadians.

Media lines:

• Marine conservation plays an important role in ensuring our oceans are healthy and sustainable for the benefit of Canadians
• The Government of Canada adopted new standards to enhance protection in federal MPAs
• This approach leads to healthier oceans, supports more consistent decision-making and provides greater clarity and predictability for our partners and stakeholders
• These protection standards are consistent with the recommendations we received from the National Advisory Panel on MPA Standards and with international guidance on marine protection
• All new federal marine protected areas prohibit oil and gas exploration and exploitation, mining, dumping and bottom trawling

Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest

Issue: The Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest (AOI) was announced in March 2018. The area was selected as an AOI due to its high conservation value and feasibility considerations, including the extensive terrestrial protected areas, ongoing salmon conservation efforts and the local interest in expanding upon nature-based tourism and industryled research and monitoring.

Over the past few years, there has been mixed media coverage of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Nova Scotia. Since the announcement of this AOI, there has been growing vocal opposition for an Eastern Shore Islands MPA.

Media lines:

• The Eastern Shore is a remarkable coastal ecosystem that deserves proactive management attention. We want residents who earn their livelihood from the water, and have the knowledge of this area, to have a strong say in the future of these waters
• In August 2019, the Government of Canada committed to ensuring that the voices of all parties are heard when considering conservation of this area; this includes several new measures that will bolster community engagement, including appointing a community facilitator
• DFO has completed an initial draft of the ecological risk assessment for the Eastern Shore. The results of this assessment will be the subject of discussion with local stakeholders and other partners before they are finalized. One key finding in the assessment is that lobster harvesting in the Eastern Shore is fully compatible with a MPA, should one be established