The Green Party of Canada Calls for Immediate Moratorium on Herring Fishery
OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada is condemning the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for its reckless decision to increase the Pacific herring harvest rate, despite clear warnings from First Nations and scientists that herring stocks are in dire decline.
“This decision is a complete failure of environmental stewardship,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. “DFO is ignoring both the precautionary principle and the inherent rights of Indigenous communities. We stand with the WSÁNEČ Hereditary Chiefs in calling for an immediate moratorium on the herring fishery.”
On January 17, 2025, the DFO approved an increase in the Pacific herring harvest rate from 10 per cent to 14 per cent, despite a Declaration signed by six WSÁNEČ Hereditary Chiefs in November 2024 demanding an end to the fishery. The Green Party warns that this decision threatens not only herring populations but also the entire coastal ecosystem.
“Herring are the foundation of the marine food web,” said Dr. Gadfly Stratton, Green Party Fisheries Critic. “They are essential for chinook salmon, which in turn are the primary food source for the critically endangered Southern Resident Orcas. The science is clear: continued overfishing of herring will have devastating ripple effects throughout the ecosystem.”
The decision to increase harvest rates despite these alarming declines has been met with widespread opposition from First Nations, environmental organizations, marine-dependent businesses, and ecotourism operators.
“We are watching an ecological crisis unfold in real time, yet DFO, under the current Liberal government, refuses to act responsibly,” Dr. Stratton continued. “Instead of protecting this keystone species, they are approving increased catch limits. This is beyond short-sighted, it is irresponsible governance.”
The Green Party fully supports the WSÁNEČ Nations as they prepare to host the HELIT TŦE S„O⁰,ET (Let the Herring Live) Forum on February 13, 2025, at Tsawout First Nation. This gathering will bring together First Nations leaders, fisheries scientists, environmental advocates, and marine industry stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions and push for an end to the herring fishery before it’s too late.
“The Green Party is committed to rebuilding herring populations and ensuring fisheries management is guided by science and Indigenous leadership,” said May. “We call on Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier to reverse this reckless decision and take immediate action to protect this vital species.”
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