Good afternoon, Mr. Johns. Thanks very much for the question.
The industry is incredibly important for coastal communities across the country. In Atlantic Canada the fishing industry is the backbone of the Atlantic Canadian economy. In the Pacific it is the backbone of the fisheries economy here for coastal communities. It is a huge part.
The benefits of fisheries go well beyond just the economic ones. There are huge intangible benefits. The connection to the ecosystem and the broadening of food security to communities are all part of the larger suite of values that fisheries bring to communities.
Yes indeed fisheries are hugely important, not just for the economy but also the intangible social values they bring.