Declining Government Resources and Involvement "Salmon Story of the Year"

Vancouver, August 6, 2003 - Severe federal and provincial funding cuts in salmon conservation and research activities is a major concern of the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (PFRCC). The ability of stewardship groups to continue their work, for example, is being compromised if not decimated by spending reductions.

This is one finding in the Council's fifth annual report, released today. To obtain a copy of PFRCC Annual Report 2002 2003, go to: www.fish.bc.ca.

"The protection of wild Pacific salmon requires major resources and commitment by both levels of government. The PFRCC is concerned that resources are decreasing rather than increasing," said the Honourable John A. Fraser, chair of the PFRCC. "In habitat restoration and protection, British Columbia may be continuing to lose its overall capacity to maintain the water conditions essential for salmon, and to provide sufficient safeguards and resources for salmon recovery".

Highlighting that concern is the urgent situation facing Cultus Lake sockeye populations, which are so low that there is a risk of extinction. "Only limited progress has been made by governments towards understanding the causes of the collapse of these once valuable and productive populations", Mr. Fraser added.

The past year was an intensively productive one for the PFRCC. Among the tasks completed and summarized in this year's report: two advisories on salmon aquaculture and one major study reviewing the issue; the initiation of a major study investigating low water issues; and a full status review of southern BC stocks, with a status review of northern and central stocks to be released later in the year; and, presentations to the House of Commons and Senate fisheries committees.

Speaking before the Senate in March, Mr. Fraser noted: "The value of the wild salmon resource to British Columbians is beyond that of a commercial food source. Salmon are important for tourism, lodges, guides, and support industries such as boat building. More than that, salmon are an icon for all British Columbians". According to the PFRCC, the salmon story of the year is the continuous decline of government funding and support of salmon conservation activities.

"There have been significant and persistent budget cutbacks in virtually all areas of fisheries management. Most recently, the Fisheries Renewal BC program has been terminated. The federal Pacific Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Program annual funding of about $8.1 million per year for habitat conservation and stewardship programs has run out. Even before these most recent expenditure reductions, resources were not adequate to ensure the basic protection and conservation of salmon populations", the Council says in its report.

"[As well], we are concerned that current approaches to prevent damage are now being replaced by attention to the end results. This may make sense in the financial world but we are concerned about its use in preventing damage to fish habitat. If poor judgment or improper assumptions occur, the harm will have been done, we want to prevent damage not police problems".

Touching on the issue of federal provincial cooperation and jurisdiction with respect to salmon habitat, the PFRCC notes: "Over a period of many years, the governments of Canada and British Columbia worked towards creating a seamless regulatory structure in fisheries management and conservation. The budget cuts and establishment of new regulatory regimes, such as a results based approach, are threatening to create perilous regulatory gaps and expose salmon stocks to more serious risk. Both levels of government must proceed more prudently with any budget reductions and regulatory changes to ensure that they do not inadvertently expose the salmon stocks to more serious harm".

The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council was established in 1998. Its role is to provide independent, strategic advice and relevant information to Canada's and British Columbia's fisheries ministers as well as to the Canadian public on the status and long term sustainable use of wild salmon stocks and their freshwater and ocean habitats.

For more information, contact:
 
John Paul Fraser
Media Liaison Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
604-775-5789
fraser@fish.bc.c

Related Reports:

Annual Report 2002 2003