I believe the staff and resources are there now; the staffing increase at the local DFO is in the last three to four months. But we need a commitment to science, a commitment to a full stock assessment every year, at least until we get to a point that we know where we're to, because right now there are indications.... I think our growth rate has been somewhere around 30%, but we need to monitor it.
We see other science issues. There's an issue around capelin. One of the main foods for cod is capelin. It's very important that we understand that fishery, or that species, as well as we go forward.
Among the major challenges we're having in the fishery and this imbalance is one in regard to the cod returning. It's been proven many times by harvesters in this province when cod return. Right now, cod are having a detrimental effect on shrimp and crab. It's nothing unusual to see a fisherman post a picture in which a cod's belly is full of shrimp and, unfortunately, full of small female snow crabs. We have to make sure there's not an imbalance in the ecosystem. Science has to play a major role in doing that and in listening to harvesters as well: these people are on the front lines. In many cases, we're not opening up a dialogue with harvesters, with the people who are on the front lines.