My name is O'neil Cloutier, and I am the Executive Director of the Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie. Today I am representing some 200 multi-species inshore fishers holding primarily lobster licences, and for whom 30% to 40% of their income has been derived in the past from the cod fishery.
Before I begin, it is important to know why you are here today. I understand that you wanted to hear from all the stakeholders in the fishing industry with respect to problems in the crab fishery. However, I am wondering what has prompted you to leave Ottawa and come here in a hurry, hold meetings and hear our representations regarding the crab fishery. I would really like to know what you do not know. I am very surprised to see you arriving here in the region by bus and by plane, to meet to us and talk about this problem. I would like you to explain your reasons, because I did not find them in the agenda or in the notice of meeting. I found nothing about that. What can we tell you that you do not already know? That is what we want to know. Do you have special reasons? Do you want to close the crab fishery? Do you want to disrupt the crab fishery or transform it? What do you want to do, and what do you want to know?