Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thanks to the witnesses, Mr. Best, Dr. Rowe and Mr. Russell. We've had some really good testimony here today with respect to northern cod.
I'm going to start with Mr. Russell.
There are a couple of things that really hit home to me about your opening remarks.
First, there were some key words, “equitable fisheries management”, and you talked about the optimism and hope that it's brought to communities. I think it's really important to highlight that. I like the words “equitable fisheries management” because when we look at the quota for this year, we see that it's 84% inshore; 10% indigenous, Innu and Inuit; and 6% offshore. You talked about the optimism and hope. I want to drill down a little deeper, though, to what it's like when you're not involved in a fishery or when you're not involved in a significant way. For the folks around this table and the folks who are watching, I think it's really important to get a sense from you, and from the people you serve, of what that feels like. That's number one.
Number two is that during testimony it was referenced that northern cod in Newfoundland and Labrador will be processed in Nova Scotia. I'm wondering if you can give us any feedback as to processing plants in Newfoundland and Labrador. Have they extended, or will they be extending, hours of operations to accommodate processing inshore or offshore?
Thank you.