Fisheries committee  The international market was there. The doors were shut. We had products. The Newfoundland seal industry, and the Canadian seal industry people in general, was a success story. We built this industry from a few thousand in the eighties up to years when we harvested 350,000 to 360,000 and could have harvested more.

Fisheries committee  I most certainly could, sir, but I would imagine that you probably got a list maybe a week or so ago from Mr. Bob Hardy. I think he made a presentation to your committee as well. He did a massive amount of work putting this all together. I'm assuming that he presented that to you.

Fisheries committee  Exactly. We knew that those bans were coming into place. We tried a few defence ways to try to offset them, but it didn't work. It didn't materialize. It had too much of a foundation built at the time to stop it. It was only a few years later, and we were into dealings and negotiations with the European Union with the CETA deal.

Fisheries committee  Yes, most definitely the markets have all to do with it. You have to watch this industry and grow in this industry to see what happened. We had markets where the doors were open, full access. We had four processing companies in Newfoundland. They were fully tasked with the 350,000 animals that we were providing them.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and fellow committee members, for the opportunity to speak to you here today. I don't have a formal presentation done. I'm going to speak off the cuff. Generally, I would be reiterating exactly what the previous two speakers have said. Trevor and I are the same age.

Fisheries committee  I'll give it a try. I'm not sure...because I don't do much fishing in the rest of Atlantic Canada. I have very little activity there. It's my understanding, though, from a friend in Nova Scotia who fishes up there, that in Atlantic Canada, and Nova Scotia per se, there was the same policy as in Newfoundland up until a few years ago, when their industry, because of the size of the vessels, requested to go to a larger vessel for carrying lobster traps.

Fisheries committee  It's a different issue.

Fisheries committee  Yes, it is— Mr. Glen Best —on one hand—

Fisheries committee  It's different.

Fisheries committee  With regard to the length of the vessel, it always pertained to the fishery, I guess, that you were involved in. It was separated by fleet. The size of the vessel determined what fleet you were in. Under the existing policy here now, we have a less-than-40-foot fleet and we have an over-40-foot fleet in Newfoundland.

Fisheries committee  Well....

Fisheries committee  I'm a little dissatisfied here this morning with the way this is. I thought the issue was vessel length policy. We've gone into many issues that are using up a lot of valuable time here, because we can explain some stuff with regard to vessel length policies that could probably better inform your members, Mr.

Fisheries committee  I operate a 50-foot vessel, sir.

Fisheries committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair and committee members. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you here today. My name is Eldred Woodford. I'm here representing the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union of Newfoundland and Labrador. I represent the fish harvesters in my region on the Fish, Food and Allied Workers inshore council.