Question Period Note: Veterinary Workshop / Issues affecting salmon aquaculture in British Columbia

• Our government is committed to the protection and conservation of wild salmon stocks on both coasts.
• DFO is engaging experts to seek advice on a number of issues affecting salmon aquaculture in British Columbia including on fish health.
• The work of these experts will be shared with representatives of the Province, Indigenous communities, environmental organizations, the aquaculture industry and other key stakeholders.

• On June 4, 2019, your predecessor announced that DFO would establish three Technical Working Groups, each focused on a key issue that has been identified for improvement and/or enhanced collaboration, in the area of aquaculture management in British Columbia. The Working Groups are inclusive and comprised of representatives of the Province of BC, Indigenous communities, environmental organizations, the aquaculture industry and other key stakeholders and will provide advice to the Department. These groups are focusing on:
o Area based approaches to aquaculture management;
o Aquaculture production technologies (including closed containment); and
o Fish health.
• The Fish Health Technical Working Group (FH TWG) was established to provide recommendations to the Department on how its current aquaculture fish health management regime could be further enhanced. This group recommended that the DFO case definitions for two salmon-related diseases be reviewed by a group of veterinarians and veterinary pathologists to ensure it is robust and meets international standards/best practices.
• All members of the FH TWG were invited to nominate appropriately qualified reviewers (i.e. veterinarians and veterinary pathologists) as well as a facilitator for the workshop. These veterinary experts will examine the criteria the Department currently uses to diagnose and test for the two diseases in BC (both on salmon farms and in the laboratory) and table recommendations to strengthen them, as appropriate. All participants are expected to actively contribute to the discussions, based on their professional experience, training and skills. The workshop outcomes will be summarized in a report that will be shared with all members of the FH TWG. Additionally, the workshop facilitator will participate in the next scheduled meeting of the FH TWG to provide a summary of the workshop and participate in a Q&A session to support the deliberations of all members of the FH TWG as they develop their recommendations.
• A small number of members of the FH TWG have been lobbying to participate as observers to these proceedings. The Department has been resisting these calls as the workshop is intended for professional veterinarians or veterinary pathologists and that there are a number of measures for transparency built into the process as outlined above.

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