Last week’s news that retired fisheries biologist Otto Langer obtained documents revealing planned changes to the federal Fisheries Act has sent ripples through the fisheries research community. According to Mr. Langer, the federal government is toying with the idea of changing some of the language in the act, which currently prohibits activities that result in the “harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat.” The act would be modified to prevent only those activities that cause an “adverse effect” on “fish of economic, cultural or ecological value.”
Unless you live in a coastal community, conduct environmental impact assessments or spend your days researching fisheries, this news probably flew below your radar. But fisheries touch all of us in Canada, despite receiving relatively little attention from the public.
Read the full article in The Globe and Mail.