I have participated in the crab stock peer review in each of the last 10 years. Each year, and particularly in the last four years, biologists were recommending a 10% cut in the TAC in order to maintain a small crab stock for future years. The snow crab stock follows a cycle. After a certain number of years, the stock declines and then it increases continuously. Because we were heading towards the low point in the cycle, in the last four years, biologists were asking for a 10% cut.
That recommendation was rejected by the industry in each of the last four years. Even last year, at an advisory committee meeting, I remember that Mikio said that we would feel the impact and it would hurt. If we had accepted the 10% cut in the TAC in these last four years, it is possible that we would not be going through what we are now this year.
This year, the scientific reports were taken into consideration by the Minister's office. As I mentioned earlier, the problem is that biologists are hired by the Department and prepare reports, but ultimately, the Department pays no attention to what they say. So, the industry carried on regardless. No cuts were made to the TAC in the last four years, and that is why we have ended up with such a significant cut this year. The same thing will probably happen again next year, depending on the scientific report, which will soon be submitted.