Fisheries Committee on May 18th, 2006

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

There are two programs, yes.

[Marc Gagnon]

The first one is the second largest program in the world. It is the north Pacific groundfish observer program, run by the federal American government. The second program, which is interdependent with the first one, is the Alaska shellfish onboard observer program. Under both these programs, the services to the fishing industry are provided by the same four or five competing companies, so it's about the same. The two programs are tied by the fact that five competing companies provide service to both of them, in the same region. We're talking about maybe 600 observers, 40,000 sea dates per year, so about twice the size of the old program in Canada. It's a very big program.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

Is the report you were asking for on the six possible options from the independent expert? I'd like to see those six possible options.

[Marc Gagnon]

That will be provided with the Gardner Pinfold report. It's part of that.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

You can also provide that for us?

[Marc Gagnon]

I will provide that report.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

That's fine. Thanks.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Thank you very much, Mr. Gagnon.

[Marc Gagnon]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

It has been a very informative meeting.

The meeting is adjourned.