Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for being here.
Of course, I'd also like to thank the fishers for being here and taking the time share their experience with us.
It's very important, and I thank them.
My first question is for Mr. Sullivan.
In the newest fall edition of your FFAW magazine, there was an article written by Dr. Erin Carruthers. I apologize if I'm not pronouncing her last name accurately. You mentioned the importance of expanding mackerel science. I want to quote something that she said. I believe it's a she; I apologize if not. She said that:
...a long-term commitment to document the abundance, distribution, extent, timing, and age of mackerel in NL waters is needed. Until we bring more observations and data from NL into the mackerel stock assessment, I do not see how we can reconcile these widely different assessments of the health of the mackerel stocks.
Is this also your stance? Can you share a bit about how DFO can best support fish harvesters to participate in the necessary research?