Fisheries committee  Mr. Chairman, I'd like to answer that. We have a great deal of confidence in the science regarding shrimp and crab, and other species that are subject to changes in the natural environment. When we were managing cod—and the changes took place that impacted the productivity of cod—we never adjusted our fishing practices at that time, and we've learned an awful lot from that.

Fisheries committee  No. First off, on the cod, I would point out that it's 15% of its former level, so it's up from 1% to 15%.

Fisheries committee  Yes.

Fisheries committee  It's gone back up to 15% of its limit reference point, so it's gone up by a considerable amount, but not enough to support any kind of economic activity.

Fisheries committee  It's 15% of its limit reference point.

Fisheries committee  No, of the limit reference point, so it's not the same thing. On the question you asked on the order paper, we provide that information. We go very thoroughly through all our information, and I have to attest to the accuracy and veracity of that information and we take that very seriously.

Fisheries committee  I believe that we've been looking at how to manage the salmon fishery in British Columbia over the last number of years. Clearly this year we're not going to be faced with—at least hopefully not—an abundance issue. But in the past we've had to manage small fisheries, and there was a problem with the entire fleet.

Fisheries committee  I think the previous minister made it pretty clear as to the position of the government regarding fleet separation and owner operators. That was reinforced in the House and that is the direction we are taking on the subsidies, etc., that were raised quite a number of years ago relevant to fishermen's EI, small craft, etc.

Fisheries committee  Yes.

Fisheries committee  On closed containment, there are pilot projects under way now, as you may be aware, on the west coast. Some first nations are working on closed containment and determining whether or not they can scale to a commercial level. That has also been looked at by other private sector companies.

Fisheries committee  I think it's to differentiate between populations. The scientific view was that the Sakinaw Lake and Cultus Lake populations had been persistent in those areas even through the ice age. They were in ice shadows in terms of being protected by mountains, etc., so the view was that they were separate.

Fisheries committee  We're supportive of it, but the responsibility is with the province and they are taking action, as I understand it.

Fisheries committee  No, but negotiations have been taking place over the past couple of years. The MOU doesn't change that.

Fisheries committee  We have a centre for values and ethics and conflict resolution that's designed to prevent problems rather than to come in and fix them afterwards. The workshops are not there to say that we have a horrible problem; they're there to prevent problems and to have a more harmonious workplace.

Fisheries committee  I think what they were trying to do was to just get out there and say, “Here's the kind of process you can follow. Here's how to contact us. If there's friction building in the workplace, here's how to resolve it.”