The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network collected comments from 23 environmental nongovernmental organizations in NL on the Fisheries Act via teleconference, email, and in-person workshop between November 23rd and November 26th.

This PDF is the resulting document submitted to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans: https://nlenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/nl-engos-fa-recommendations.pdf

All Nature lovers are invited to a party to celebrate the festive season. This can be a great opportunity to network and meet friends in NatureNL, as well as members of other groups working on behalf of our natural heritage.

When: Thursday 15 December 2016; drop in anytime from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: Third-floor board room of The Gathering Place, beside the Basilica parking lot, door on your left. (Elevator available if necessary, but please contact 722-1925 ahead of time)
Pot luck “finger foods”, tea and coffee provided

Hosted by Nature NL on behalf of all of our environmental friends in the St. John’s area.

Any questions? Please contact Marjorie Evans marjjevans@nl.rogers.com or 722-1925.

The Humber Natural History Society Annual General Meeting will be held 7 PM on December 6, 2016, in the Board Room of the Pollett Building (on Riverside Drive, Corner Brook).

The format will consist of three parts:

1. A short presentation by Bruce Rodrigues:
   ‘What use is made of information obtained by citizen science processes such as the Christmas Bird Count?”
2. Annual General Meeting – reports on the year’s activities, election of executive, next year’s activities
3. Social – refreshments

Part of ACAP Humber Arm’s ongoing Coastal Matters Speaker Series

November 17th,  12:30 – 1:20pm

Room 2014, Forest Centre, Grenfell Campus

Deep-sea Mining of Hydrothermal Vents: A Future Reality or Fantasy?

Hot water volcanic springs on the seafloor produce mineral deposits rich in valuable base and precious metals.  As a result of recent advances in submarine technology, and a push by nations to secure strategic metal supplies, these deposits may soon be the first mineral resource mined from the deep ocean floor.  However, these deposits are also home to unique ecosystems, and the link between these organisms and the greater deep ocean ecosystem remains poorly understood.  Considering the historically poor environmental record of the mining industry, there is much concern regarding the effects of deep sea mining on global ocean health.

ACAP Humber Arm invites you to join our next Coastal Matters presentation where Dr. John Jamieson, Canada Research Chair in Marine Geology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, will discuss the current state of knowledge regarding the resource potential of deep sea mineral deposits , and also discuss some realities and misconceptions regarding the future potential of mining the seafloor, followed by a Q&A with the audience.  This talk will take place 12:30 to 1:20pm, Thursday, Nov 17^th in room 2014 of the Forest Centre, Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook.

As with all Coastal Matters presentations this session is free of charge and open to the public. RSVP’s not required.  Tea and coffee will be available; feel free to bring your own bagged lunch.  Please help us promote this session by forwarding this email to your contacts and/or displaying the attached poster at your workplace.

ACAP Humber Arm wishes to thank Grenfell Campus for ongoing support of the Coastal Matter’s Speakers Series

NLEN: Many Voices for The Environment
As key stakeholders and environmental representatives, Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations across Newfoundland and Labrador are invited to participate as consultants in the review of the 2012 Fisheries Act. We have been advised that comments submitted as a collective will be more powerful and therefore we are encouraging representatives of ENGOs to participate in one or more of the following ways:

1. Register and attend the workshop hosted by NLEN in St. John’s on November 21st
   • Financial assistance is available travel and accommodations for representatives across the province.
   • Participants are being asked to submit a draft “comment template worksheet” or non-structured letter of comment to nlen.ed@gmail.com by November 17^th to ensure we are able to cover all topics of interest to ENGOs. Post workshop you may choose to resubmit a comment template with changes to your perspective.
     1. The “comment template worksheet” is available here.
   • NLEN will additionally be holding the Annual General Meeting and launching a provincial Oceans Caucus on November 21st, following the workshop. More information is available here.

     • NLEN would like to particularly thank our member organization the Quidi Vidi-Rennie’s River Development Foundation and their catering location the Suncor Energy Fluvarium for supporting the workshop portion of this consultation. Further information about their venue and catering services can be found here.

2. Register and attend the workshop hosted by Humber Arm ACAP in Corner Brook.
   • Please email info@acaphumberarm.com for more details.
3. Should you be unable to send a representative to either workshop, please submit a “comment template worksheet” or non-structured letter of comment to nlen.ed@gmail.com so we may still include your ENGOs perspective on the review of the 2012 changes to the fisheries act (Deadline to submit to NLEN is November 17^th).
   1. The “comment template worksheet” is available here.
4. Explore the forum and the online series of workbooks to provide personal comment or your ENGO’s perspective at http://letstalkfishhabitat.ca (Website is only live until November 25^th)
5. Give direct input via requesting to be a witness for the Standing Committee. Details will be available at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/FOPO (Deadline imminent).

NLEN welcomes all commentary on the fisheries act as a whole. However, the government has narrowed the focus of this review to the 2012 changes to the fisheries act and as such commentary outside of the sections of the act which were changes may not have legs, so to speak. The sections under review are listed below. We strongly encourage you explore the following websites and the presentation by DFO on the review process in order to focus our commentary.

Information resources:

• https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/conservation/assessmen ts/environmental-reviews/fish-habitat-protection.html
• http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/FOPO
• http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/index-eng.html
• http://www.letstalkfishhabitat.ca
• DFO Teleconference Presentation
  

If you have specific questions about the review process or details of the act – Not questions about how to be involved in the workshop which should be directed to NLEN –  then please contact:

Dana Yetman
Senior Biologist – Indigenous Engagement
Client Liaison, Partnerships, Standards & Guidelines Fisheries Protection Program
dana.yetman@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
(709) 772-3469

Or

Jason Kelly
Team Lead
Client Liaison, Partnerships, Standards & Guidelines Fisheries Protection Program jason.kelly@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
(709) 772-4126

The following are the sections that are under review:

• Section 2 (Definitions)
  • For the purposes of this Act, serious harm to fish is
    • the death of fish or
    • any permanent alteration to fish habitat,
    • or destruction of fish habitat.
  • CRA Fisheries definitions – used only in reference to Section 35 of the Fisheries Act and related provisions and set out the scope of its application.
    • Aboriginal, in relation to a fishery, means that fish is harvested by an Aboriginal organization or any of its members for the purpose of using the fish as food, for social or ceremonial purposes or for purposes set out in a land claims agreement entered into with the Aboriginal organization.
    • Commercial, in relation to a fishery, means that fish is harvested under the authority of a licence for the purpose of sale, trade or barter.
    • Recreational, in relation to a fishery, means that fish is harvested under the authority of a licence for personal use of the fish or for sport.
  • Section 35
    • Subsection 35(1) – No person shall carry on any work, undertaking or activity that results in serious harm to fish that are part of a commercial, recreational or Aboriginal fishery, or to fish that support such a fishery.
    • Subsection 35(2) – A person may carry on a work, undertaking or activity that results in serious harm to fish without contravening the prohibition if the person is authorized under the Act.
  • Section 6 – guides decision-making related to the Fisheries Protection Provisions
    • Four factors must be considered before making decisions (i.e. decision to issue an Authorization, making of Regulations)
      • a) the contribution of the relevant fish to the ongoing productivity of Aboriginal, commercial, or recreational fisheries;
      • b) fisheries management objectives;
      • c) measures and standards to avoid, mitigate or offset serious harm to fish that are part of or support an Aboriginal, commercial, or recreational fishery; and,
      • d) the public interest.
    • Section 20 and 21 – Fish passage and maintenance of flow
    • Section 37 – Enforceable conditions
      • Requirement for proponents to provide plans/ specifications requested under Section 37(2).
      • Compliance with conditions of authorizations.
    • Section 38 – Duty to notify and take corrective measures
      • Requirement to report an occurrence that results in serious harm to fish.
    • Section 39 – Powers of Fishery Officers
      • Expanded powers for inspectors under some sections of the Act.
    • Section 40 – Penalties
      • Changes were made to the penalties sections to increase penalties and fines.
    • Section 43 – Regulatory Authorities
      • Authority to make regulation

“Indian Ocean to Atlantic Ocean: Conservation from Mauritius to Newfoundland” Laura King, Speaker

November 17th, 7:30PM

Room SN2067, Memorial University. Parking available in Lot 15B next to the School of Music

Selected as this year’s ‘Canada’s New Noah’ scholarship winner, Laura King spent the spring, summer, and fall in this little-known tropical nation. The award, given yearly by the NGO Wildlife Preservation Canada, provides early career biologists with hands-on field skills and academic training so they can better contribute to Canadian conservation upon their return. But how does working with pink pigeons, parakeets, and pathogens contribute to helping here? On these tiny faraway islands, success stories with some of the world’s most interesting reptiles, plants, and birds are being written every day. The story of how these feats are accomplished and maintained is a look into the world of modern conservation practices, the talented and sometimes slightly strange biologists keeping these projects on the go, and the unusual species that have inspired devotion and donations from across the world.
Laura King is a conservation biologist with a local NGO, Nature NL board member, and outdoor enthusiast. She spent her undergrad and MSc doing wildlife genetics and toxicology, and has worked in government, universities, and non-profits. Having lived in nine cities, three provinces, three countries, and traveled on six continents, her motto used to be “Gather no moss”, but she has recently decided she rather enjoys the mosses of Newfoundland.

“The Wanderers – the entwined fates of wolves and caribou in Labrador”

The Humber Natural History Society (HNHS) invites members and friends to attend an illustrated presentation, at 7:30 PM, Wednesday, November 9, 2016 by Dr. Isabelle Schmelzer with the Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Division to learn about the interdependence between these two iconic northern species.

Location is AS 2026 on Grenfell Campus, MUN. (This is the lecture theatre in the annex below the telescope area.)