Fisheries Committee on May 26th, 2021

[Rebecca Reid]

I think you are raising some excellent points around standardization of tubs, and I think that should be part of the future protocol.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Really, Ms. Reid, it's an academic question, this standardization of tubs. Whether I have one pound or two pounds, it might take two minutes to thaw one and four minutes to thaw another. It's an academic question. It really doesn't involve the fishery.

What we have here, what we see and what I see, is the proverbial sledgehammer to kill a fly. DFO has swept in with enforcing regulations, which it has the authority to do, in a fishery that is seeking out the most lucrative market it can at this time, which is the ability to go directly to the consumer, which makes sense. We want the fisher to get the maximum amount of gain. We should be there working with them to get in, and no evidence has been given to this committee as to why DFO would have reacted so fast and forcefully in the past several months, which really, really upset this industry.

When I pose specific questions, that's why I say I get waffling around the periphery.

[Rebecca Reid]

There's no question that people are upset—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Oh, yes, we understand that, Ms. Reid. We had them before this committee. They're very upset.

[Rebecca Reid]

I would say that the issue was raised and that within two months it was resolved, and the fishery hadn't opened yet. The fishery is now open—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Okay. Who raised the issue? You referenced several times that the issue was raised with DFO. Who raised the issue with DFO that forced your department to take a look at how it's enforcing the regulation? Who raised the issue?

[Rebecca Reid]

I wasn't part of that meeting, but I can ask Neil to describe—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

No, Ms. Reid, that's not an acceptable answer. I asked a question. I want the answer to it.

[Rebecca Reid]

Well, I can't.... I'm attempting to answer the question, but I assume you would like to hear it directly rather than second-hand.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Sure. Fine.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Our time for that has expired. Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.

Maybe, Mr. Davis, you want to give a quick answer to that question.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

It's important, Chair, that we find out who raised the issue with DFO that led to this.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Go ahead, Mr. Davis.

[Neil Davis]

The conservation and protection officers who were part of that working group on traceability in packaging raised the issues when industry had noted the expectation that prawn tubbing would continue to be more important to them.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Thank you, Mr. Davis. Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.

Just before we wrap up this segment, I have received a question. I am fine with allowing each party representative to ask one more question, but that's it. It's one question and one answer each. If that's the will of the committee, I am fine with allowing one more here with the department.

Do I have a thumbs-up on that? All right. We'll go one more round.

We're going to start with Mr. Arnold with one question, and then we'll work our way through.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the opportunity for one more question.

Ms. Reid, we've heard today that there were two incidents of infractions regarding size limits for prawns. We haven't heard how many inspections were actually done, only that 42 fines in total were listed, but probably many more inspections were done. Then we had a sudden change in interpretation.

How many infractions involving illegal nets and illegal fishing were identified on the Fraser River last year that affected at-risk steelhead and at-risk salmon? How many fines were laid? What action has your department taken to stop the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that is taking place on the Fraser?

[Rebecca Reid]

I can ask Nicole to give the statistics, but we may need to get back to you on those particular numbers.

[Nicole Gallant]

I do not have the statistics at my fingertips for the Fraser River. I would have to get back to you on that one, if the committee so chooses.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Thank you.

I will now go to Mr. Hardie.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Reid, we heard that prior to the pandemic and the world market slowing down, tubbing accounted for about 10% of the catch. During the pandemic, you've noticed it has gone up to 20%, but it would seem reasonable to suspect that it's going to go back down again, because those international markets are much more lucrative than the domestic market.

Why do we need to do this when the number of infractions is low? We don't expect tubbing to increase in frequency once things get back to normal. Is it not possible for you to simply say, “You know what? Nice try. Not working. Let's just do an Etch A Sketch on this thing and go back.”

[Rebecca Reid]

We actually have found a reasonable solution that addresses the concerns, and for me, being able to implement the regulation is an appropriate measure for us to take.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Richard Bragdon]

Thank you, Ms. Reid.

Madam Gill, we're trying to keep this to within one minute for each segment.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to turn to Mr. Davis and repeat the question to which I did not receive a satisfactory answer. I did not understand the answer anyway.

Was it fishers or their representatives who asked the department to make changes, yes or no?

[Neil Davis]

I'm not sure I understand the question, but industry raised the concern, and we then worked with it to resolve the issue.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

So it was indeed industry representatives who requested changes.

Thank you.