Politicians fighting to get new DFO staff

Black Press
July 29, 2010
North Island Gazette

Plans to add federal fisheries officers for aquaculture enforcement should consider the North Island.

“We have plenty of room here in the Port Hardy office, which has lost many staff over the past few years,” said Port Hardy mayor Bev Parnham. “It would make lots of sense to have those officers here, where the majority of the fish farms are located, rather than hundreds of miles away. I will be speaking to (Vancouver Island North) MP John Duncan about it.”

Regional chair Al Huddlestan agreed with that. “We already have a facility in Port Hardy that’s fully equipped,” he said. “The bulk or all of the jobs should go there.”

MP Duncan advocates splitting the staffing between Port Hardy and Campbell River, which both have DFO offices.

“Your regional district and mayor have been very vocal on this ... they wanted to see an increased presence in the Port Hardy office, even before this news,” said Duncan, who estimates DFO staffing in Port Hardy has dwindled from 15 to five in recent years. “I want to see the original 15 back in Port Hardy, plus some of the 50 for aquaculture.”

The story started when Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) director general of aquaculture Trevor Swerdfager announced more federal fisheries officers will be hired and trained to inspect salmon farms and shellfish operations on the B.C. coast.

Read the full story in the North Island Gazette. 

Read related stories in: 

• North Island Gazette; July 29, 2010; "DFO staffing needed here" 
• Nanaimo Daily News; July 13, 2010; "Aquaculture takeover may be Nanaimo jobs windfall"
• Campbell River Mirror; July 13, 2010; "More federal fisheries officers expected to patrol aquaculture sites" 

 Read further related stories