Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Again, welcome to our presenters. Thank you for being here and taking the time.
I want to focus on Cooke Aquaculture. Cooke Aquaculture was recently charged with the discharge of illegal pesticide in the Bay of Fundy. The investigation was launched after lobster fishers discovered dead and dying lobsters from Campobello region, Deer Island, and Grand Manan. Environment Canada launched an investigation and found that the chemical used was cypermethrin. That's banned in Canadian waters and known to be harmful to crustaceans. Environment Canada has found 11 instances where this chemical was discharged, and fishers are concerned about the traditional fishing grounds, obviously for good reason.
Cooke Aquaculture claims that aquaculture and traditional fishers can coexist, but this incident might suggest otherwise. There seems to be growing opposition to aquaculture on the east coast.
Do you believe that the illegal discharge would have been stopped or contained by a closed containment system?