The federal budget announced yesterday includes $500 million in cuts to Fisheries and Oceans Canada over four years, a move five times larger than previous reductions proposed in 2013. Conservation groups warn these cuts could have serious consequences for Pacific salmon, fisheries, and the communities that rely on them, particularly in regions like the Skeena.
Monitoring programs for salmon, already at historically low levels, are set to be scaled back further, threatening science-based management that supports sustainable fisheries. Five years ago, the government modernized Canada’s Fisheries Act to better protect and restore fisheries, gaining broad support from First Nations, environmental organizations, anglers, and the fishing industry. Many of these protections have yet to be fully implemented.
At the same time, the federal government plans to fast-track major industrial projects deemed in the national interest. Critics say this combination—reducing oversight while accelerating development—puts wild salmon, their habitats, and fisheries at significant risk. Conservation leaders argue that without strong federal monitoring and enforcement, both fish populations and the economies and cultures that depend on them will face mounting pressures.
SkeenaWild emphasizes that science and monitoring are the foundations of sustainable fisheries management, and cutting funding at this critical time undermines efforts to rebuild salmon populations and protect local communities.
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