Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo hears about salmon catch ban

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Hunter Tootoo expectedto hear about the federal government's ban on killing salmon caught in Maritime waters during a visit to New Brunswick.

TootoovisitedMonctononFriday to fishery stakeholders, First Nations leaders, provincial Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet and others.

Last April, the federal department imposed a mandatory hook-and-release program for all salmon caught in Maritime rivers, meaning no anglers could keep any salmon caught.

"I've got a feeling that's going to be one of the topics we're going to talk about," said Tootoo.

"The whole purpose of this trip for me is to be able to get out there and hear what the concerns and issues are from the stakeholders to be able to help me make a more informed decision as we move forward."

In his Atlantic travels, Tootoo has also heard concerns about changes to the temporary foreignworkers program, which fish processors have relied on to hire workers in fish plants during peak season.

"It's not my thing to change, but I certainly heard issues and concerns with the processors here in New Brunswick," he said.

Consensus, science key goals

Tootoo wants to bring a consensus-building approach to the department.

The common goalthat everyone seems to have is conservation and protection of the stocks to ensure thesustainabilityof the industry.- Minister Hunter Tootoo

"My mandate is very clear to work with the provinces, territories, indigenous people and other stakeholders to better safeguard our three oceans. It's a new approach, an approach I believe is inclusive and will lead to better results," Tootoo said at a news conference.

After visiting Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Tootoo says a theme is alreadyemerging.

"One of the common things that I've beensurprisedby ... is whether it be industry,whetherit be an environmental group, whether it be oil and gas or whether it be government the common goalthat everyone seems to have is conservation and protection of the stocks to ensure thesustainabilityof the industry," he said.

An ability to findcommon ground is something Tootoo hopes tobring to the department from his pastexperience as an MLA for nearly 15 yearsin Nunavut.

"I served as a regular member...as well as a minister and speaker there and the way our system works is on consensus sitting down, raising tough issues and dealing with them to move forward," he said.

'Sound decisions basedon sound science'

Tootoo promises to make "sound decisions based on sound science."

"We're reinvesting $40 million into ocean science and the other thing that I've learned ... is all of these groups do their own science so I'm meeting with them and saying look, we can all work together," he said.

Information Morning - Moncton8:05Hunter Tootoo

Canada's new minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard is visiting Moncton today.He says he hopes that by pooling the information that's been collected, he'll be able to make even better decisions.

"For me it's important to be able to get out and hear first hand what the stakeholders and the people that depend on the fisheries for their livelihood and the challenges and issues that they face," Tootoo said.

As an Inuk, he says he understands the challenges faced by first nations, and he hopes to work closely with indigenous people in Atlantic Canada.

"I met with aboriginal leaders in Halifax two days agoandI'mmeeting with Burnt Church folks this morning,"Tootoosaid in an interview onInformation MorningMonctonon Friday.

"There's been a lot of frustration that they've faced over the years and they're eager to work together collaboratively to move forward...and I recognize that we're not always going to agree on everything."