June 22, 2005 -
VANCOUVER – Political interference, shrinking budgets and dramatically conflicting mandates within DFO have put salmon and other marine life at greater risk than ever, says a new report commissioned by the David Suzuki Foundation.
Released today in Vancouver, An assessment of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific region’s effectiveness in meeting its mandate is the most in-depth analysis of DFO’s Pacific operations to date. Based on extensive interviews with a panel of respected fisheries experts, House and Senate Committee reports and testimony, Auditor-Generals reports and extensive analysis of internal DFO records and budgets, the report identifies key problems and solutions to improve DFO’s effectiveness.
"Collapsing fish stocks, mismanaged salmon and polluted aquatic environments are clear signs that DFO is failing in its conservation mandate," says Bill Wareham, acting director of marine conservation with the David Suzuki Foundation. "Canadian fisheries will continue to decline until DFO admits there is a problem, and commits to a process of long-overdue reforms."
The report lays bare DFO’s steady decline in effectiveness over the past several decades, describing a complex bureaucracy that is unable to live up to its mandate to protect fish stocks and the marine environment. Key challenges within DFO include:
· Unwelcome political interference, in particular, the promotion of aquaculture, directly contradict DFO’s responsibility to protect wild fisheries;
· An overly complex and dilapidated bureaucracy sees an ineffectual "universe of only partially-responsible departments";
· An inadequate budget, and misallocation of existing funds.
"West Coast fish stocks are in deep trouble, and the world is watching how Canada manages its imperiled salmon runs," says Mr. Wareham. He points to a recent article in the Economist, which suggests that DFO is in "denial" about its failings, and hints that B.C.’s wild salmon stocks "seem to be swimming towards the same fate" of the east coast cod fishery.
Today’s report concludes with an urgent call to re-structure, re-focus, and re-build the dilapidated department, with several specific recommendations for reform.
Based on the report’s findings, the David Suzuki Foundation is urgently calling on government to make the following changes:
· Ensure departmental accountability, with clear conservation objectives and targets, measured and publicized annually;
· Implement a user-pay system to ensure that those affecting fish, fish habitat and fisheries (including land developers, forestry and polluting industries) are held financially responsible;
· Ensure that funds are allocated to programs that directly support conservation, i.e., science and research, enforcement, and the Oceans Strategy.
"DFO has the strong mandate, internal expertise and untapped potential to protect Canadian fisheries and ocean environments for future generations," says Mr. Wareham. "It’s time for them to start actually doing it."
Backgrounder
This report is available on the David Suzuki Foundation website at: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Oceans/Publications.asp
For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Brown
Communications Specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
(604) 732-4228, ext. 229
