It meant fishing at a jumbo size, which the market does not want. Conservation and social economics need to go together. Too often I see a real disconnect between DFO science and economics.
Winter closing. Three districts in the Bay of Fundy, Grand Manan, and southwestern Nova Scotia--districts 33 and 34—should be closed for a two-month period in the winter to help the market to absorb the stored product from the fall fishery. There is a fear by lobster wholesalers if you have a mild winter and add unforeseen fresh lobsters to the market. Most lobsters have moved offshore, and those caught are the larger size, which also hurts the brood stock. It is not a large fishery, but it does keep the market nervous. To do this, however, we need to increase the quality of tank house stored lobster. More research is needed by DFO in this, I think.
The winter closure was discussed last fall, in December I think, in southwest Nova Scotia for a closure from January 15 to March 15. This did not happen, though.
I must say, this winter fishery is supposed to get larger. In a few years it has grown in size, and I think the buyers seem to feel it affects their price quite a lot.
Overcapitalization. The lobster fishery has become overcapitalized. The boats have become much more efficient, but also a lot more costly. With the high catches and the high prices in the early part of the decade—