Fisheries Committee on March 24th, 2009

[David Bevan]

We do agree. It is impossible to have one solution for all the problems in the lobster fishery all over the Atlantic. We have to work with the fishermen in each zone and find solutions that are best for each situation. All zones are different. The problem is the same, the price. But perhaps there are other solutions for different zones.

Possibly, licence buy-back is a solution in a number of zones. Fishermen in Gaspésie have found a way to reduce the number of fishing licences in their zone. It may be possible to find other ways of doing so in other regions.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Yes, in Gaspésie, fishermen have found a way to get through the difficulties they are experiencing and to deal with ones that may arise later. The Government of Quebec has specifically encouraged and supported the licence buy-back approach. Why does the Government of Canada not support it?

[David Bevan]

Perhaps we have to find a way to work together. It is possible that the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada can find a way to work together. However, as I said previously, it is not possible for us to say that there will be a large-scale program to buy back fishing licences.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

But, at the moment, we are not talking about a massive program or a large-scale program. We are talking about an approach that, in one specific region, in specific zones, could be useful, interesting and viable, and that could result in sustainable development in the industry. The Government of Quebec understands this. Why do they not understand it here in Ottawa?

[David Bevan]

Up to now, we have not had many discussions with the Government of Quebec, but we could follow up with them about it. That may be a possibility, but I cannot say for sure at the moment.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

In the next weeks and months, are you ready to commit to holding discussions both with the industry in Quebec and the Government of Quebec?

[David Bevan]

We have had discussions and they will continue. I can say that we are working with all lobster fishermen to find a way to improve the returns and the sustainability in the fishery. But I cannot say now, today, whether it is possible for the federal government to use existing programs or ones that are being put in place.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

But you know that the licence buy-back approach, the solution suggested by fishermen in Gaspésie whereby licences are bought back, has been suggested as an solution or an approach for several years already.

[David Bevan]

Yes, they used their resources to put that program in place and it looks to me like one way to solve their problems. In the Atlantic region, the problem is the same. Fishermen have invested too much money and too many resources in the fishery. They have to find a way to reduce their costs and to increase the price of each pound of lobster.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

One minute and ten seconds.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Fine.

Are you ready to commit to meet representatives of the Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie to discuss possible solutions early in the coming season?

[David Bevan]

Yes, we are ready to have meetings and discussions in order to try to find a way to correct the situation and to avoid major problems this season. That is what we are doing in the Atlantic region. We are looking for solutions in each region...

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

You clearly understand, of course, that I am talking about a specific meeting with a particular group. Are you saying that you agree with that?

[David Bevan]

Yes.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Monsieur Blais.

Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I thank you folks for coming before us today.

Madame Watson-Wright, you had indicated--I'm paraphrasing now--that certain science funds will be dedicated to research on the enhancement of lobsters. Is this new money from the department for lobster research, or is it money taken from other aspects of science and diverted to this specific species?

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright]

Thank you for the question.

The projects I was referring to were in fact new money that came into the department as a result of the Larocque decision. So we have specifically invested in lobster as part of that additional funding that came into the department.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

As you know, the Atlantic Veterinary College does a lot of great work on lobster research. I've been talking with Shawn Murphy about a project-to-project basis, and I remember speaking to them a few years ago. A member there asked us for more stable funding so that they could do their research in advance and know exactly what kind of money they should be able to receive from DFO on this. Will some of that new funding go to the Atlantic Veterinary College to help them continue their research on lobster science?

[Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright]

Right now, the funding that I was referring to has to go to industry partners, as opposed to academic partners. Now, we do work very closely with the Atlantic Veterinary College and with the lobster research centre. At this point, we usually count our contributions in kind from both sides. I know that the lobster research centre has recently received funding through ACOA and the Atlantic Innovation Fund. We work closely with them to try to ensure that the projects that are undertaken are actually helpful to the industry and to the department.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Thank you.

David, last year we heard a lot of news reports about the U.S. inspecting the trucks that were going in. There were some violations in regard to undersized lobsters. I haven't heard of any this year, but there may be some again. There usually are. What is the department doing to enhance and increase its monitoring, not just at the dockyards, but in the lobster pounds and at the border, before these undersized lobsters are sent out?

[David Bevan]

We focused our conservation protection program and our fisheries officers on this problem last year. That's going to continue as a priority for their monitoring efforts. As you know, it has been a problem in the past, so I guess the concern you have is that as people come under a lot of economic stress there's a lot more potential for problems with compliance. We're going to have to keep a strong focus on it.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

The other concern, of course, is the issue of other uses of the ocean. There's a lot of talk about Georges Bank and the lifting of the moratorium. For oil and gas, there's increased pressure in that regard, as well as seismic testing. There are a lot of other demands on the environment, and not just for fishermen and their lobsters.

When it comes to making these decisions, I know that a lot of lobster fishermen are saying that their input really isn't being taken into account and that oil and gas or other sectors of the economy will take precedence over their concerns in what has already been reported as a billion-dollar industry. How much of their input actually gets through to the department in order to protect and enhance the environment for the lobsters to thrive in? It seems that there's an awful lot of pressure on the environment in this particular regard.

[David Bevan]

There's no question that there's a lot of pressure and there are a lot of demands. I would say they have a very strong voice. I can't really talk too much about the whole integrated management process in southwest Nova Scotia and that whole issue of oil and gas. That's the area of responsibility of my colleague, Mimi Breton, but I think it's fair for us to say that, notwithstanding the fact that there's not.... There's a lot of strong organization around the lobster fishing industry in terms of a holistic “one voice” for all of the LFAs. They get their message through.