Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fishery at Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes are in trouble. Over the last few years, there has been a noticeable decrease in the pickerel stocks resulting in an increased catch effort. The problem is so bad that all but one commercial fisherman has left the lakes. Even this one commercial fisherman is not catching enough fish to make the effort worthwhile.

In 1979, there was a study done in the fish stocks in Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes. The study resulted in a rise on the quota on Kakisa Lake and the quota at Tathlina Lake was cut in half.

Mr. Speaker, the quota is 20,000 kilograms at both lakes combined. There has been no increase in the quota for 22 years. There has never been a problem in obtaining the quota. Sometimes the quota has been caught in as little as three to four weeks.

Lately, Mr. Speaker, one week of fishing has resulted in two boxes of fish. A large percentage of these fish are not even pickerel. Last summer, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans did a study in cooperation with the Kakisa Dene Band on the fish stocks at Kakisa Lake. DFO provided two technicians and made contact with the band to provide boats and assistance. Together, they tested the fish stocks using nets with four different mesh sizes and samplings of various strategic locations on the lake. An analysis on the study is due back towards the end of March.

This summer, DFO intends to do a similar study at Tathlina Lake. Further, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, in conjunction with DFO, has been taking random samplings from Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes fish for the past 20 years. With all of these tests, we should have some solid evidence as to when the problem began, if not the cause of the problem.

Mr. Speaker, our northern environment is very fragile. After 22 years of testing, monitoring and abiding by the quotas with no problem, all of a sudden there is a problem we have to look at. We have to look at the effects of logging, global warming, acid rain, oil and gas exploration and other potential hazards to the environment.

Mr. Speaker, not only are the fish at Tathlina and Kakisa Lakes a valuable resource in terms of a commercial fishery, they are a mainstay in the diet of the people of Kakisa. The fish are a valuable resource that we cannot afford to lose. Further, if we are losing the fish, we would have to suspend our common sense not to see that we are losing our lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause