sptirtfishinj; pt>lic>. IikIkui iijililN. cinintninciit.il prolociioii, prohlcms ot Yukon, 

 Inlcrgovernnicntal arrangements, adnimislralioii, enforcement and research. The 

 issues that reiiiiireil investigation are not only very hroad but, as this report reveals, 

 are also exceedmgly ci>mplicated, uitertwined, anil ilitliciilt to unravel. I o redesign 

 fisheries policy in a way that will be both feasible and effective in resolving its 

 current deficiencies is a formidable challenge. 



The iiiforniatioii in this report has been obtained in a variety of ways, the most 

 important being tiie C oiiimission's public hearings. All those who wished to make a 

 presentation on the matters within the terms of reference were invited to participate 

 in hearings set up in coastal and interior centres in British Columbia and Yukon. 



The hearings took place against a background of anxiety about the state of the 

 fisheries and uncertainly about government regulations. Soon alter the Commission 

 was struck last year the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced a series of 

 new restrictions on commercial and recreational fishing. TTie ensuing debate over 

 these measures, and the way they were implemented, heightened concern about 

 fisheries policy. At the same time, Canada's important negotiations with the United 

 States over a new international accord, relating mainly to interception of Pacific 

 salmon, faltered and raised new apprehensions. And several industrial development 

 projects have recently generated public controversies over their impacts on fish 

 habitat. TTie concern generated by these issues and the generally depressed eco- 

 nomic condition of the industry have created deep dissatisfactions with government 

 regulatory policy, and no doubt account for the high level of interest and participa- 

 tion in the hearings. 



One hundred and fifty-one individuals and organizations (listed in Appendix B) 

 were registered participants. These included virtually all commercial and 

 sportfishing organizations, many Indian tribal councils and bands, environmental 

 groups, professional associations of biologists and foresters, industrial organizations, 

 governmental agencies involved in the fisheries and other resource industries, and a 

 large number of individuals. 



In November 1981, after the first round of hearings, my Preliminary Report, 

 Conflict and Opportunity: Toward a New Policy for Canada's Pacific Fisheries was 

 published.' In addition to recommendations relating to commercial fisheries regula- 

 tion, that report reviewed all of the other major issues within my terms of reference, 

 providing up-to-date information and identifying problems and possible solutions. 



A second round of hearings was then scheduled. Yiach of these new sessions was 

 devoted to one of eight subject areas: habitat management, salmonid enhancement 

 and aquaculture, Indian fisheries, recreational fisheries, research, licensing inspec- 

 tion and product regulation, enforcement, and administration and consultative 

 arrangements. At each, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans presented a back- 

 ground paper on the issue, and participants could present supplementary briefs 

 concentrating on the changes needed. 



In the two rounds of hearings, the Commission received 193 written submissions 

 (listed in Appendix B), which were examined in 67 days of public hearings held in 

 1 1 centres in British Columbia and Yukon. The discussions of these briefs and 

 related testimony have been compiled in 14,328 pages of verbatim transcript. 



In order to broaden participation in the inquiry, I also held informal meetings in 

 some of the smaller communities that have a significant interest in fisheries. Meet- 

 ings were held in 16 towns and villages along the coast and in the interior, many of 

 them in Indian communities. These less-structured discussions contributed a great 

 deal to my understanding of local problems as well as to the more general policy 

 issues I was required to examine. 



