I have received advice from many sources on this issue. I received advice from the various fleets. I went back and looked at the report. I received direct submissions, talked to the people involved, got the advice of the department, and at the end of the day this was seen as the most equitable decision.
There were different circumstances back when this report was first written. As a matter of fact, there are a number of items in that report, I'm told, the minister of the day did not adopt. He picked the ones he wanted to agree with. It was not a contract.
This was seen as the most equitable decision. Those licences now all share the very same quota. They did receive a modest increase last year. They received another modest increase this year. So it was very important to stabilize the fishery after listening to everybody's submissions, and try to make the most fair decision.
The traditional fishers have been in the business for quite a number of years, and they weighed in as well on this decision.