Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses.
My first question is for Ms. Aylward. I was very much interested in your discussion about the issue of changing the permanent closure that P.E.I. fishers are dealing with, in particular in the shallow depths. I think it makes a lot of sense. In fact, as you may be aware, there was a closure in southwest Nova Scotia in June because of the sighting of a right whale, but FSC fisheries were allowed to continue in that area.
I wrote to the minister on that. The minister wrote me back on October 5, and I'll quote from her letter. She said:
As you note, NARW closure protocols do not currently apply to FSC harvesting activities, which are rights-based, small-scale, and often occur in shallow waters, to which these whales are less likely to migrate.
I wouldn't mind tabling that letter with the committee, just as part of the study.
The minister and the department are acknowledging, in their response to my letter, that shallow water gear is not a threat to right whales. I wonder if you could briefly comment on that.