First, to preserve the economic benefits for each community, a single opening date for everyone must be maintained. Opting for different dates depending on which ports are ice-free would lead fleets to leave their usual home ports.
Second, still with a view to maximizing fishing activities before the right whales arrive, we maintain, as do the other zone 12 crab fishermen's associations, that static or dynamic closure areas should not be imposed before the right whales arrive. While there is room for improvement, the monitoring strategies are effective enough to detect the arrival of the right whales in our fishing areas. Within 96 hours, the fishermen can move their traps to areas where there are no whales.
Third, further study and documentation is needed regarding the coexistence of marine activities—in our case, fishing in the presence of marine mammals. Each species behaves differently in the presence of boats and fishing gear. To allow for this coexistence, we have to train fishermen and educate them about these new realities. In our opinion, there is very little such training at this time, and educational institutions must be encouraged to create such programs. The more fishermen understand the importance of protecting not only marine mammals, but biodiversity in general, the more easily and the more quickly we will secure their cooperation.
Fourth, what would have happened if one or more whales had died this year? Would we have lost our markets? Do we have a plan? Many people applaud the fact that no right whales died this year as a result of the very strict measures taken. In our opinion, we were just very lucky, as we were very unlucky in 2017. We need a real action plan and strategies to deal with a potential incident. In this regard, it is extremely important for Fisheries and Oceans to work quickly with the industry to regain the Marine Stewardship Council certification that was lost this year. That would send a signal to markets that we take the situation seriously, and above all that we have taken corrective measures to retain it. We must have one or more strategies to deal with potential whale mortalities. We cannot simply cross our fingers and hope for the best.
Fifth, we have to look out for fishermen's safety. The measures implemented this year forced some fishermen to change their fishing practices a number of times. Many of them had to move their traps often. You have to understand that the resource at the bottom of the sea is not like vegetables in a garden that grow everywhere equally. In addition to lower catch rates at the start of the season, the inclement spring weather forced fishermen to step up their fishing activities and to work in dangerous conditions. We are lucky there have been no tragedies at sea. Any strategy must consider fishermen's safety, which we consider non-negotiable.
I would like to point out in closing that we endorse the recommendations to be presented later on by our colleagues from the Maritime Fishermen's Union — Mr. Mallet will be making a presentation — and the Association des crabiers acadiens.
Thank you all for giving us this opportunity to submit our ideas and comments.