An Assessment of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Region’s Effectiveness in Meeting its Conservation Mandate

Published by: David Suzuki Foundation
Authored by: Julie Gardner, David L. Peterson, Allen Wood
ISBN: 0-9737579-1-4

Oceans and fresh water species at risk, fisheries and aquaculture, British Columbia, conservation, protecting coastal waters, water systems, eco-assets

An Assessment of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Region’s Effectiveness in Meeting its Conservation Mandate is an in-depth analysis of DFO’s Pacific operations. This report, published in spring 2005, says urgent reform is needed within DFO in order to save Pacific fisheries.

The report examines DFO Pacific Region’s performance in eight areas of responsibility:

• science and assessment
• fisheries management
• enforcement
• freshwater habitat management
• marine ecosystem management
• enhancement
• species at risk
• aquaculture

Authors David L. Peterson, Allen Wood and Julia Gardner identify eight core challenges which largely explain ineffective performance on the conservation mandate:

• inadequate information
• lack of transparency and accountability
• insufficient and misallocated budget
• political influence
• confusions arising from external relations and shared responsibilities with a variety of federal and provincial agencies
• bureaucratic complexity
• conflicting and changing mandates and direction
• weaknesses in enforcement of existing laws and regulations

The report recommends not only increased budget for Pacific Region conservation-related activities, but also structural changes within the department.