Fisheries Committee on May 15th, 2007

[Serge Savoie]

Yes, there are some, the inshore fishers, among others. The inshore fishers also fish scallops, lobster, herring and other species of fish. They can have virtually unlimited licences.

The lobster fishers are complaining because lobster is also somewhat in decline. On the other hand, they don't have weigh stations and are not limited to a given quota. There has been no legislation nor having any quotas been announced. Even they themselves say there are too many of them.

Ground fishers also have quotas. They 40 MFU inshore fishers no longer have temporary licences; they now have permanent licences.

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

They are not temporary allocations for the duration of the moratorium?

[Serge Savoie]

No.

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

You seem to be in favour of updating the Fisheries Act. In my view, the only problem with the Act is that it is over a hundred year's old. Aren't you afraid that Bill C-45 will contain all of the decisions that went against DFO? I am referring to the decision brought down in the Larocque case, where service and research were being funded with crabbers' money.

Aren't you afraid that Bill C-45 might allow DFO to demand quotas to fund research and development?

[Serge Savoie]

Mr. Asselin, we will take an in-depth look at the bill. I can ensure you that we will share all of our concerns. We want to make proposals to the minister to amend the act. Between now and October, our association will still study that directly, because we cannot miss this opportunity.

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I invite crabbers from New Brunswick, the Acadian Peninsula or elsewhere to share their concerns with us, as our committee will study the issue for Bill C-45. We will also demand that the minister meet with the people affected by the bill. At present, crabbers are not experiencing stormy seas, there are experiencing problems on shore.

[Serge Savoie]

That is accurate, sir.

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

When we think about the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the problems with communication, the storm is not out at sea, it is on shore, from one I can see.

The season is often very short. More and more, the price of fuel and labour are increasing, quotas are maintained or are lower, and there are new demands. I am afraid that Bill C-45 may even legalize the decision that went against you. I urge you to pay careful attention to this.

[Serge Savoie]

Mr. Asselin, I would greatly appreciate being inviting back here.

Mr. Chairman, I am making a request. Once we have finalized our position on the bill, we will be more than pleased to come and present our very clear position on the topic.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Raynald Blais]

Thank you, Mr. Asselin.

We will go to Mr. Stoffer, but before we do, I would just like to point out that in terms of procedure, when witnesses or groups want to appear before the committee, it is much wiser to put in a written request. That forces us to write back to you, and enables us to take a detailed look at the requests that we receive.

On that, I give the floor to Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Merci, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, gentlemen, very much for your presentation.

Sir, prior to December 13, 2006, the tabling of Bill C-45, were you or your associates--or anybody in your organization--asked for your input prior to the tabling of that bill?

[Serge Savoie]

No, sir, because our organization is a young one.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

No, but the question is quite clear. Before the bill was tabled, were you asked for your input on the new legislation?

[Serge Savoie]

No.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

It's a red herring. We're talking about crab today.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I realize that, sir, but he also brought up Bill C-45, which will affect their lives very seriously. The reality is, he's asked his input now. He should have been asked that input before the tabling of the bill. And that's as simple as that.

Sir, on the Maritime Fishermen's Union, you had asked some certain questions. Have you been able to sit down with the executive of the MFU to get some of your questions answered?

[Serge Savoie]

With the MFU, no.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Okay. You say you have some questions about the MFU, on how they allocate the health care expenditures they have. I'm wondering why you haven't been able to sit down with them. Have you asked for a formal meeting to get some of the answers to your questions?

[Serge Savoie]

The inshore fishers are the ones that must do that, and they have asked for a meeting. However, they have never received an answer. We are primarily responsible for crabbers.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

And you're aware of the Larocque decision, right?

[Serge Savoie]

Yes.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

How did that affect your industry?

[Serge Savoie]

It had a huge impact on the industry, because traditional crabbers lost approximately one million pounds.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Sir, in 2006 the decision was made in March for the crab fishing, for just a single year, instead of three years. And that was for the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence--actually, the 2006 snow crab management plan for snow crab fishing areas 12, 18, 25, and 26, and in the southern gulf. In that decision they elected to make the plan for only one year instead of normally three years. Have they made a formal decision for 2007 yet? Has the minister announced the plan for 2007?

[Serge Savoie]

For 2007, we have proposed that, the same thing that I have read. But the fishing plan for 2007 is still giving quotas, TAC, to other ones.