Thank you.
I just have a couple of issues, Mr. Bevan. One issue that you've lived with, I guess, your entire life is the whole issue of enforcement and complaints that there's not enough enforcement. But the constant frustrations of the whole industry, as far as I'm concerned, are the penalties and sanctions that are imposed after a person is caught and prosecuted. These prosecutions aren't cheap. They take a long time, and you see somebody get the $1,500 fine or the $1,200 fine.
It seems to me if people want to participate in a regulated industry, and they get benefits from the regulated industry, there has to be some mechanism that they play by the rules. Is it not time, when we go forward in this regulated industry, for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to up their game and just make a one-year suspension for anyone caught violating the regulations set down by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans?
We've had a couple of situations in my province lately where a person goes out with short lobsters or fishes illegally outside of the season and uses illegal gear, and the fines are between $1,000 and $1,500, with maybe one or two days of suspension. They're back in the water right away.
Is this something that is being considered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans or is it something that should be considered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans?