The union representing DFO scientists, saying there have been job cuts in the department, is warning of potential mismanagement of fish stocks.

The federal government has been cutting hundreds of millions in spending across the board, including in DFO.

Sean O’Reilly, President of The Professional Institute of Canada, says some two dozen marine biologists were cut in this province. He worries that critical conservation measures will be missed due to staff workload.

“Now you’re going to have fewer people doing the same amount of work and my concern is that things are going to be missed,” he told VOCM News.

“DFO has worked for years to rebuild things that were lost in the past in the province. To lose that expertise now and have those people walking out the door, you’re going to have fewer people doing the same amount of work.

St. John’s-East MP and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Joanne Thompson, believes her department is responsibly balancing cuts and conservation.

“Our commitment to science remains,” she told reporters.

“There are opportunities, and we certainly have presented with one, to look at our systems and look at where we can streamline to still achieve what it is that we want to achieve, but to ensure that we’re doing it in a manner that’s lean and respectful of our need to be very mindful of the dollars that we spend.”