Fisheries committee  Okay, sir, there's one thing I should have told you right away: the CCCTPA has only existed for eight months. So we are not an association that is 10 or 12 or 15 years old. We have been built by fishermen who were unsatisfied with what was going on at the DFO and the UPM. So it's

Fisheries committee  Do I believe what, sir?

Fisheries committee  We do believe that the fishery belongs to everyone. However, one industry has developed it from top to bottom, starting in 1975. One industry has financed it, protected it, imposed quotas on itself to ensure the resource was protected, invested millions of dollars in the fishery

Fisheries committee  That is accurate, sir.

Fisheries committee  Mr. Asselin, I would greatly appreciate being inviting back here. Mr. Chairman, I am making a request. Once we have finalized our position on the bill, we will be more than pleased to come and present our very clear position on the topic.

Fisheries committee  No, sir, because our organization is a young one.

Fisheries committee  No.

Fisheries committee  With the MFU, no.

Fisheries committee  Mr. Asselin, we will take an in-depth look at the bill. I can ensure you that we will share all of our concerns. We want to make proposals to the minister to amend the act. Between now and October, our association will still study that directly, because we cannot miss this opport

Fisheries committee  The inshore fishers are the ones that must do that, and they have asked for a meeting. However, they have never received an answer. We are primarily responsible for crabbers.

Fisheries committee  In English—

Fisheries committee  Yes, that is correct.

Fisheries committee  Yes, there are some, the inshore fishers, among others. The inshore fishers also fish scallops, lobster, herring and other species of fish. They can have virtually unlimited licences. The lobster fishers are complaining because lobster is also somewhat in decline. On the other

Fisheries committee  No.

Fisheries committee  Biorex is charging crabbers about $3,300 to put observers on their boats. In the past, the federal government paid a certain percentage of the fees. The Paul Martin government eliminated that funding. Crabbers now pay all of the fees. The current conservative government has chang