Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 31, 2015) - The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today issued the following statement:

I'm pleased to announce that the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon has completed its work and submitted its final report, A Special Report on Wild Atlantic Salmon in Eastern Canada. The report outlines the Committee's findings and recommendations to protect, conserve and rebuild Atlantic salmon stocks across eastern Canada.

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to the conservation and protection of Atlantic salmon. This valuable resource has been an important part of Canada's social heritage for more than 150 years. In the mid-70s, there was an abundance of wild salmon in the waters of Atlantic Canada. Today, these stocks have declined significantly. Over the years we have carried out several measures and made a number of investments to support conservation and stock rebuilding. Despite these efforts, annual counts of Atlantic salmon reached some of the lowest returns in recent years.

Our Government is open to looking into what more can be done, or how we can do things better and differently, which is why I established the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon.

Today represents an important milestone. Our Government has clearly heard the concerns about low Atlantic salmon returns and is determined to work with its partners to review current approaches to science, management, habitat restoration and international issues.

I'm pleased to report that our Government has already adopted the Committee's interim recommendations for the Atlantic salmon and the striped bass recreational fisheries in the Gulf, which were implemented this season. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations put forth by the Committee and the role my department can play in helping to protect and conserve wild Atlantic salmon for future generations.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Greg Roach for his leadership as Chair of the Committee, Bill Taylor as the Vice-Chair, and all the members for their expertise and dedication to this issue as well as the valuable contributions of the many stakeholders who share this devotion.

Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/DFO_MPO