Total catches have declined over the past five years. We have heeded the advice of our scientists and we have taken steps to reduce catches.
Last year, however, fishers asked that the quota be maintained at 22,000 tonnes and that difficult decisions be deferred. That is what they asked us to do. We sought the advice of scientists. They told us that the risk was not too great, but that we could encounter problems later. Obviously, that's what happened.
We listened to the advice and reduced catches, but the fishers were not interested in major reductions. We tried to strike a balance between their needs and the need for stock conservation. This year, we had to take much stronger action.