I'll try to answer you.
Thank God we can make $800,000 in a year because, if we couldn't do that, we wouldn't be here before you. Mr. Bevan, this morning, the only figures that he presented... The message to the public and in the media is always the same: they say crab fishermen earn gross revenue of $800,000. It's lucky that happened once in 10 years.
In 2006, we were paid $1.10 a pound for crab. In 2007, that increased to nearly $2. This year it was nearly $2 again. The prices of $3, $3.50 or $4 that were offered in 1994, 1995 and 1996 no longer exist. You have to stop dreaming in colour. The Canadian dollar is virtually at par with the American dollar. Most of the crab is sent to the United States. The “crab Klondike” no longer exists. I'm not saying it didn't exist. For a number of years, it was very good, but I believe that time is passed and over, particularly in view of the current number of fishermen.
In the gulf, I calculate that there isn't a single square mile where fishing isn't carried on, even in places where, 20 years ago, no one would ever have thrown a trap into the water because there weren't enough crabs for the fishery to be viable. Currently, every corner and square kilometre is full of traps. There used to be large areas where there was virtually no fishing. I believe that enabled stocks to replenish. Today, there are a lot of areas everywhere. There isn't a single sector where there aren't any traps.
If you can make money one year in 10, I think you deserve it. I don't understand why people attack specific fiscal years. It's always the same thing. Mr. LeBlanc, it was the same thing in 1995. To justify the sharing agreement in 1997, they once again stated that crab fishermen had earned $800,000 in income. There was one year when that occurred between 1990 and 2000, and another between 2000 and 2010. Thank God, because, as I said earlier, we wouldn't be here.
With an average income of about $175,000, as is the case this year, depending on the quotas, it's impossible to manage a fishing business such as ours. You need revenue of $300,000 or $350,000 gross. Otherwise it's impossible. How am I going to build a new boat? How am I going to change my engine, which costs $150,000?
Obviously someone who's been fishing for the past 30 years has accumulated some money, and so much the better for him. It's like everyone here around the table: you work, you reach retirement, and you've accumulated some funds. I believe a fishing business also has to accumulate funds. However, it's always the same thing with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and with politics. We're told we made $800,000 and we're condemned for that.