An Overview of Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO

1
An Overview of Fisheries and Oceans Canada(DFO)

• Presentation at the 7th Pacific Rim Conference
• By Dr. Richard Beamish
• Senior Scientist

www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
March 2006
2
Overview of Presentation

• About Canada
• Some Facts
• Importance of Fisheries
• Fisheries Jurisdiction and Legislation
• About DFO
• Regional and Organizational Structure
• Clients and Stakeholders
• Fisheries Management Renewal
• Oceans Management
• Fisheries Research
• Coast Guard
• Conclusions

3
Some Facts About Canada

• Population of about 32 million
• 7 million in coastal areas
• Total area of nearly 10 million km2

• Features the worlds
• Longest coastline (over 240,000 km)
• Largest freshwater system (2 million lakes and
  rivers)
• Greatest tidal range (16 m, in the Bay of Fundy)
• 3.7 million km2 offshore economic zone

4
Importance of Fisheries to Canada

• 4.3 billion in exports of fish and seafood
  products last year
• 5th largest in the world
• 471 million in exports to Japan (2nd largest
  export destination for Canada), 383 million to
  China and Hong Kong.
• Primary fisheries production in 2004 -- 2.8
  billion
• Fisheries provided more than 60,000 direct jobs
  and 30,000 indirect jobs in 2003
• Aquaculture provided 14,000 additional jobs,
  directly or indirectly

5
Jurisdiction and Legislation over Canadian
Fisheries

• Federal, provincial, and territorial government
  cooperation important
• Sea coast and inland fisheries are federal
  jurisdiction
• Key, relevant federal legislation
• Fisheries Act
• Oceans Act
• Coastal Fisheries Protection Act
• Species at Risk Act
• Provinces responsible for processing sector and
  labour

6
DFO Regional Structure
7
DFO Organizational Structure
Larry Murray Deputy Minister Lucie
McLung Associate Deputy Minister
Hon. Loyola Hearn Minister Fisheries and Oceans
Georges DuPont A/Commissioner Canadian Coast Guard
Regions
Sectors
Policy
Central and Arctic
Quebec
Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
Science
Gulf
Newfoundland and Labrador
Human Resources and Corporate Services
Oceans and Habitat
Maritimes
Pacific
8
DFOs Clients and Stakeholders

• Parliamentarians (Members of the House of
  Commons, Senators, and Parliamentary Committees)
• Provincial/Territorial Governments
• Industry
• Unions/Associations
• Aboriginal Groups
• Public

9
Examples of DFO Fisheries Management Renewal

• Working closely with other jurisdictions, clients
  and stakeholders to review policies
• A Policy Framework for the Management of
  Fisheries on Canadas Atlantic Coast (March
  2004)
• Conservation of the resource as the priority
• Greater industry self-reliance
• Transparent, rules-based decision-making
• and a stable access and allocation approach
• Shared stewardship

10
Examples of DFO Fisheries Management Renewal

• Government of Canada investments in international
  fisheries management
• Increased diplomatic interventions by DFO and
  Foreign Affairs Canada to change international
  fisheries and oceans governance
• Expanded aerial surveillance and at-sea patrols
  in the NAFO Regulatory Area

11
Key Initiatives in Oceans Management

• Canada's Oceans Strategy to maintain and enhance
  our marine environment and address increasing
  demands
• Integrated, comprehensive vision
• Integrating economic opportunities with social
  and environmental goals
• Engaging Canadians in decision making
• Marine Protected Areas to conserve and protect
  unique habitats, species at risk, biodiversity,
  and productivity
• Integrated Management and Marine Environmental
  Quality Guidelines are also key tools

12
Fisheries Research at DFO

• Scientific basis for conservation and sustainable
  economic use of fishery resources
• DFO scientists provide advice on
• Status of fish stocks
• Conservation objectives
• Information on marine ecosystem issues

• Related research in aquaculture,
• environmental science, hydrography, and ocean
  science

13
Spotlight Maurice Lamontagne Institute (MLI)

• Examples of joint projects
• Sentinel Fisheries Program cooperation with the
  fishing industry to develop time series of
  abundance indices used in cod stock assessment
• St. Lawrence Observatory scientific data portal
  developed in partnership with Economic
  Development Canada and Saint Lawrence Vision 2000
  
• Automated Ocean Monitoring project developed in
  partnership with the marine transportation
  industry to remotely monitor and transmit ocean
  surface parameters
• Ecotourism and Data Collection Explorama
  Discovery Centre of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
  collects temperature, salinity and plankton
  biomass depth profiles offers tourists
  interested in oceanography a hands-on experience
  in data collection and visualization
• Whales On-Line - The Whale Researchers
  cooperation with the Group for Research and
  Education on Marine Mammals

14
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)

• Marine programs and services
• Search and Rescue
• Icebreaking and Route Operations
• Environmental Protection and Response
• Marine Aids to Navigation

• Marine Communications and
• Traffic Services
• Waterways Development
• Support for Scientific Research
• Support for Fisheries Protection

• Support for other government departments, such as
  Citizenship and Immigration, Environment, and the
  Royal Canadian Mounted Police

15
International Dimension of CCG

• Support delivery of Canada's international
  obligations in safety, security and environmental
  protection, for example
• Oil pollution preparedness, response and
  cooperation
• Prevention of pollution from ships
• Safety of life at sea
• Scientific missions and fisheries protection
• Working with UN International Maritime
  Organization and the International Association of
  Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse
  Authorities

16
Conclusions

• DFO works with others to ensure the sustainable
  development and safe use of Canadas waters
• Opportunities for international cooperation
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
• Canadas Oceans Strategy
• Science
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Other areas