SkeenaWild warns DFO cuts threaten salmon and communities that depend on them

SkeenaWild warns DFO cuts threaten salmon and communities that depend on them

Terrace, BC – The federal budget announced yesterday includes $500 million in cuts to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) over four years. That’s five times deeper than the $100 million in cuts over three years Stephen Harper proposed as part of his 2013 budget.

“Carney’s cuts will have devastating consequences for salmon, economies, and communities across Canada, including right here in the Skeena,” said Julia Hill, Executive Director of SkeenaWild Conservation Trust. “It shows a stunning lack of regard for our region and the things people here value.”

Five years ago, the federal government modernized Canada’s Fisheries Act to better protect, restore, and sustain Canada’s fisheries. The reforms had broad, non-partisan support from First Nations, environmental groups, anglers, and the fishing industry. But many of those critical protections and policy commitments have yet to be implemented.

“Instead of delivering on past commitments, today’s budget signals a retreat from science and monitoring— the very foundations of sustainable fisheries management,” said Hill.

Kaitlin Yehle, SkeenaWild’s Fisheries Director, adds, “This plan to ‘wind down research and monitoring’ to achieve savings targets comes as Pacific salmon escapement monitoring is already at an all-time low—falling by nearly half since the 1980s.”

“The government claims DFO will do more with less, but there’s absolutely no evidence that’s possible. If past cuts are any indication, we’re likely to see the further degradation of Canada’s fisheries resources at a time when we should be doing more to rebuild them,” said Yehle.

Hill added that cuts to DFO are even more worrisome at a time when the federal government also plans to fast-track major industrial projects it deems in the national interest.

“Fast tracking major projects while reducing DFO’s oversight and monitoring capacity is a double whammy – a recipe for disaster when it comes to wild salmon, their habitat, and fisheries,” said Hill.

Media Contacts:

Julia Hill, Executive Director
[email protected]
250-615-2659

Kaitlin Yehle, Fisheries Director
[email protected]
778-789-9191