Fisheries Committee on Feb. 24th, 2014

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Thank you.

I wonder, given the opening of, or at least the resumption of, review of new aquaculture licences.... And by the way, I want to hasten to add that the resumption is outside the Discovery Islands archipelago, consistent with the Cohen inquiry recommendation. Do you see an increase in capacity that might accommodate this wonderful new market opened up by our minister of international trade, the government's work on CETA?

[Ruth Salmon]

Absolutely. There's no question now in British Columbia that they're able to deal with amendments, that they're able to be open for new applications, and that this is directly related to new markets. Any time you have growth, you need to align that growth with market development, so companies will be doing this, the two at the same time, and the EU just starts to look so much more attractive than it has in the past.

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Closed containment was a subject that certainly we reviewed as part of our aquaculture report. One of our recommendations was that the country ought to look at the creation of a closed containment centre of excellence. Cohen also talked about closed containment. One of the issues has always been the commercial viability of closed containment.

Do you see, with the opening of the European markets, a new interest in closed containment salmon or other aquaculture?

[Ruth Salmon]

There's always going to be a mix of production systems within our industry, and so I think growth can come at all levels. We've always been very encouraging of continuing to do research and development, so we'd support any kind of additional work in terms of centres of excellence. So much of our industry is actually.... A third of the life of a salmon is in closed containment in a hatchery, so we already have a lot of expertise, and any new expertise is only going to help that aspect of the business as well. The existing industry has the potential to grow sustainably and responsibly in addition to other arenas, such as closed containment, so I would say that there's opportunity for both.

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

I have many more questions but the chair is indicating that time is up so, again, thanks for being here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Thank you, Mr. Weston.

Mr. MacAulay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Salmon, it's good to have you again.

[Ruth Salmon]

I'm happy to be here.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We're happy to have you here too. Has the mussel industry in Prince Edward Island changed enough to meet the requirements of the demand that will take place? Why I'm asking this question is, number one, I do not believe that the price of the blue mussel has increased to a proper price, if I may say. Are there any recommendations you would have to this committee on what the government could do or what the industry should do in order that we reap the best price?

I want you to do the talking but the truth is you're going to the Boston seafood show, and we do not have any more fish to sell, really.

[Ruth Salmon]

That's right.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We're not getting the proper dollar for the fish we are selling. That's a problem for us all. I know it's not under your jurisdiction, but when you look at the lobster issue, when they're getting the lobster for little or nothing, that's a sad situation. I'd like you to comment.

[Ruth Salmon]

You're absolutely right that the price paid to the grower, and even to the retailer, hasn't changed very much when it comes to mussels, so it's a very wonderful product for the price. It's huge value, so I agree it probably should be higher.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Can I just say this? You could find the blue mussel in South America, all over Europe, and they're selling all the product. What do we need to do to get it up there?

[Ruth Salmon]

One of the first requirements—and I'm talking about industry here—is that collectively they all have to be on the same page.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I'm a farmer.

[Ruth Salmon]

You can't have somebody increase the price and somebody else not support that. So industry has to be collaborative and cooperative, and agree that this is what they want to do. We haven't seen that yet. The demand is strong, and I agree that it would be much more viable for the industry if that price could come up, but everybody has to agree to it, and that's challenging.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Would you be saying to me in a political manner that the fact is the price is the lowest price offered for the person that sells. Is that correct?

[Ruth Salmon]

It's unfortunate, but that ends up being the case.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

That is sad, and I do not know what the recommendations are, but just as an example, I toured a massive seafood show in Shanghai and by the time I found a Canadian lobster about three feet down in the freezer...and I know we say it's not the federal government, it's not this and not that, but we need to promote our product better, and reap the funds that we should.

I would like you to comment, and probably it's a bit of an unfair question. First of all, how much seafood is produced in the world today?

[Ruth Salmon]

In the world? You've got me there.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

All right, but you're saying that by 2030 we'll need 50 million tonnes more.

[Ruth Salmon]

Exactly.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

If that kind of an increase were projected in the automotive industry, I wonder what you would see for an injection in the country.

[Ruth Salmon]

That's an interesting question.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

With no answer, and I understand there'll be no answer, but it is sad because no matter what government seems to be around we never seem to be able to focus on the fishing industry, but if it's something else—