Under drastic budget cuts, muzzling of scientists, and failure to communicate with the public, Canada's DFO risks losing credibility as a fisheries management agency with the public, says the DFO's own performance review. The agency is seeing its budget cut by about 25%; it is losing tools for habitat protection, and it is likely to face many more and costly lawsuits. Furthermore, scientists employed by the DFO are also losing confidence in the agency. The implosion of a government fisheries management agency is unprecedented, and has the potential to damage Canadian fisheries in a world demanding more standards and accountability, rather than less.