First of all, I should say that I am not a fisherman. However, I have fished over my lifetime periodically. I have sealed since I have been 15 years old. Every year I've been at the seals, and continue to do so.
I apologize that I don't have a written submission. However, I didn't have much time, so if it's required I will do something after this meeting and send it to the appropriate people. That's no problem.
I have a couple of concerns. First, I should say that I do support the previous speakers with regard to the activists and to the insurable earnings for the sealing industry. However, my concern is a little bit different. I was so frustrated last year that I felt I had to do something to find out who makes the decisions and if anything can be done to change them.
Last year I tried to get a crew of licensed sealers to go sealing. However, I couldn't get a crew of licensed sealers from area 6. I was told by DFO that I could not pick up licensed sealers from any area other than area 6. I could have got sealers from area 5, area 7, area 11, but I wasn't allowed to take them. The other option was to permit someone to come on my boat just prior to the season opening; I think you're allowed to do that. However, in my discussions with DFO, I was not allowed to do that because I wasn't a level-2 fisherman. Although I had the required papers and everything to operate the vessel that I own and operate, I still could not sign on for a permit for a sealer unless I was a level-2 fisherman. I don't think that's fair. It may be right according to the law, but it's not fair. Enough on that one, I guess.
The other thing, I guess, are the concerns the other sealers have as well. Last year I think I was tied to a wharf 14 days, watching other sealers—including boats over 35 feet—from other areas go out and kill their seals. Nick, who lives next door to me, was allowed to go out and kill seals. I was not allowed to go out and kill a seal, because I was operating a boat under 35 feet. That only occurred in area 6, I believe. I guess my question is, who makes those decisions? What can be done, if anything, to change those decisions? You certainly can't hunt seals two weeks after the season is opened, with the season opening the second week in April, particularly with the ice conditions the way they were last year. Everything had gone north, and most people at that time wanted to get back and get at the other types of fishing they do.
I'll not take any more of your time, but again, I would be happy to do a written submission to try to get this thing changed.
As a result of that tie-up last year, I believe there was a substantial number of seals from area 6 left in the water that could have very easily been taken. I see speedboats going out and coming in, and giving up killing and tying on. My crew and other people's crew that were tied on there were not allowed to help themselves to seals.
I don't think that's right. I don't think anyone can spend money, fuel up their boats, prepare the boats for sealing and go out there and expect when you get out there that those are the conditions that will arise.
That's all. Thank you very much.