Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have three more questions. I just want to pick up where I left off and get clarification about the decision for last year versus this year on the TAC.
Am I correct in saying that last year, with the precautionary principle in place and the science providing guidance, the minister made a decision to go with a higher than recommended TAC, and this year she decided to go with a lower than recommended TAC? I'm just wondering if that's fair to say. Or did the minister's decision reflect the department's scientific recommendations?
Second, given what this committee heard on our Quebec and Atlantic provinces tour on snow crab, many fishers and their associations didn't feel included in the process--or at least what I heard was they didn't feel included in the decision-making process. I'm wondering what elements of the community consultation process you think could be improved so that they don't have that feeling of disengagement, and so on.
Finally, Mr. Bevan, you mentioned in your remarks that the ocean temperature and conditions are changing in the southern gulf, and I'm wondering if you can put your finger on what you attribute those changes to.