Evidence of meeting #42 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was infrastructure.
A video is available from Parliament.
2:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you.
We'll now go to the representative for the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association. I'm not sure who's giving the statement, but whoever it is, you have five minutes or less.
2:10 p.m.
Molly Aylward Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for the invitation to speak here today. I have appearing with me, Mr. Mitch Jollimore, who is a fisherman entrepreneur, as well as Mr. Gerard Watts, a representative from the Covehead Harbour Authority.
The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association was created in the 1950s to approach the federal government with one united voice. The PEIFA has evolved alongside the DFO to create the well-established working relationship that we still maintain today. The PEIFA represents approximately 1,275 core fishers.
Our goal here today is to focus on the impacts of Fiona on fish harvesters and on fisheries infrastructure as it relates specifically to Prince Edward Island.
The province of P.E.I. was heavily impacted by Fiona. The province had widespread power outages, with more than 85% of the province without power immediately following the storm. Some households and businesses were without power for almost three weeks.
We would like to commend the frontline responders and military for their hard work in the aftermath cleanup and restoration of power to the province.
Fisher harvesters in P.E.I. were significantly impacted by the storm. Several fisheries were still active, including the fall lobster fishery in LFA 25, tuna, halibut, rock crab and fall herring. The fall lobster fishery had untended gear in the water which was directly exposed to the full impact of the storm.
In the lead-up to the storm, captains worked to prevent and minimize damage to their fleet. Although every effort was made, the storm, as we know, was unprecedented.
In LFA 25, lobster harvesters experienced significant impact to onshore facilities, gear and revenue. For example, harvesters experienced lost and/or damaged gear. What was found showed significant signs of weathering. Extra time and expense were required to locate or repair missing gear. Catches were impacted, as lobsters do not trap well after such a storm and, in many cases, they were fishing with fewer traps.
For those who are dependent on employment insurance, a reduction in revenue and/or fishing time may impact qualifications. Overall, annual revenue for fish harvesters was impacted. This creates a hardship, especially for new entrants to the fishery. New entrants typically carry a higher debt load, making it more difficult to meet financial commitments.
It's unknown at this time what the impact is on the lobster habitat. However, the PEIFA, through the climate action fund, has commissioned two studies that look at the impacts of climate change on lobster and sediment transport. These are two issues that have been raised by fish harvesters and have been underscored by this unprecedented storm.
Specifically, one project is a climate change risk assessment to lobster. This study is being conducted in each of the P.E.I. LFAs. The work includes interviews and workshops with fishers, scientists and climate scientists to understand the pathway in which lobsters may be affected by climate change and how climate change may improve or degrade lobster survivability in P.E.I.
The results show that while climate change may in fact improve lobster survivability in the near term, certain aspects of climate change, such as extreme weather events or heat, are likely to negatively impact lobster in the future. The final report is not out yet, but is expected in the coming month.
The second one is a climate change study on impacts to sediment transport near small craft harbours in P.E.I. This was commissioned because of concerns over dredging requirements at small craft harbours. The study will include some sediment transport modelling at two small craft harbours, Skinners Pond and North Lake, and that will be used to estimate the impact of climate change on sediment transport. The results of the modelling will be used as a case study to understand potential impacts, and this is due out in 2023.
In the aftermath of the storm, there were requirements for lost fishing gear to be recovered and brought to shore through LFA 25. This challenge was met by members of the Prince County Fishermen’s Association and the PEIFA. Numerous boats retrieved lost equipment on the ocean surface or grappled for gear on the ocean floor over three days. A total of 35 volunteers worked hand in hand with DFO C and P, resulting in an orderly and impactful equipment recovery.
Although the lobster industry suffered the greatest impact, other fisheries were also impacted. There were delays in getting boats back on the water to resume fishing. Channels were inaccessible due to sediment buildup. There was a lack of ice to properly maintain catches, as well as a host of other issues with gear and onshore facilities.
In addition to the impact on the fisheries, there is a clear understanding that the rebuilding of wharf infrastructure is critically important and needs to be a primary focus. There are two wharves that are non-operational in P.E.I., Covehead and Stanley Bridge, a further nine wharves that are only partially operational and several others that have damage but are still operational.
This situation presents many significant challenges, including repairing existing infrastructure and properly improving vulnerable areas. We have aggressive timelines since the largest fishery on Prince Edward Island will commence in the spring of 2023, just six months away with the Canadian winter in between.
We commend the government for quickly announcing funds to assist the fishery. Three-hundred million dollars was announced, with a focus on repairing and enhancing the infrastructure at wharves. This is a good start. However, it is expected that the cost for repairs and upgrades will be substantially greater.
The damage experienced in P.E.I. from this category 2 storm was unprecedented. Should we get a category 4 or category 5 storm with the infrastructure we have, we would be wiped out. Moving forward, we need to prevent that by fixing what needs fixing and reinforcing what we have.
We look forward to working with all levels of government and to ensure our infrastructure is in good repair and ready for the future.
Thank you.
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
We are going to our questions now.
We will start off with Mr. Small for six minutes or less.
I will be really tight on the time because we have to finish up after the first block of questions.
Mr. Small, you have six minutes or less.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for taking their valuable time and committing it to our study today.
First I'll go to Ms. Aylward.
You need those small craft harbours up and running by when?
2:15 p.m.
Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
The spring fishery will begin on May 1, 2023. That's our largest fishery in LFA 24 and 26A.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
If those damages aren't substantially repaired by then, what will the impact be on harvesters and processors in the fishing industry in P.E.I.?
2:15 p.m.
Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
It will be a significant impact for sure because, obviously, they need to be able to set their gear and to return home every day. It is imperative that those wharves are in good shape for the fishermen to do that. Of course, they need to bring in their landing so that can be brought to the buyers and then to the processors to provide the products to the consumers.
2:15 p.m.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
Do you think it's possible that those repairs will be done on time? What work has begun already? Has any?
2:15 p.m.
Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
I would like to turn it over to Mr. Watts. He is with the Harbour Authority of Covehead. Covehead was one of the hardest hit harbours here in P.E.I., and he can speak to that directly.
2:15 p.m.
Gerard Watts Covehead Harbour Authority, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
I represent the Harbour Authority of Covehead. We were the hardest hit wharf on Prince Edward Island, next to Morell. We took the hurricane right on the nose, so to speak.
At our harbour, the wharf is basically destroyed. There are 16 boats there and four mussel operations. There's only room for about four boats to operate right now if we were to start the lobster season, so there's really no place to safely put your traps.
2:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Mr. Watts, could you lower your camera a bit? The interpretation people need to see your....
There you go. Perfect.
2:15 p.m.
Covehead Harbour Authority, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
They need to see my nice smile. Okay.
Anyway, we are in really bad shape. We will have to fish off the sand next year if we can't get this infrastructure corrected.
We have been working with the DFO. We will have the bulldozers there next week to remove all the debris. We lost a lot of our buildings and some of the infrastructure. There's about two feet of sand all over the wharf, and we're working to get that cleaned up. The whole infrastructure to put your traps and stuff is completely destroyed.
The DFO has cited us as being one of the priorities. Right now, it's saying, “Let's get things cleaned up,” and it's meeting with us to come up with a better design for the wharf so that it's safe for everybody.
2:20 p.m.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
I'd just like a quick response to this question, Mr. Watts.
Is there any slack capacity on Prince Edward Island now so that harvesters could move to different ports, or are you maxed out and you absolutely can't get by without those repairs?
2:20 p.m.
Covehead Harbour Authority, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
Well, that was talked about: where you could go. Most of those harbours are pretty maxed out. It's difficult for fishermen that compete on the water to be moving from one harbour to another, because they sort of have their territories.
There was some talk of how maybe we can fix up another wharf intermittently to get us by, but the fishermen we met this weekend, they're pretty insistent. We're going to try to work with DFO as best we can on an interim basis to get enough safety equipment in place, whether it's plywood or something, to put the traps on to get them launched.
2:20 p.m.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
All right.
I have one more short question. This one is going to be for Mr. Jollimore.
Looking ahead to next season, there has been a significant amount of fishing gear that's been lost, destroyed and rendered unusable. Do you see any issues with being able to have the fishing gear on hand that you need to set by next season? How's the availability?
November 18th, 2022 / 2:20 p.m.
Mitchell Jollimore Fisherman, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
Thanks for the question.
No, I don't think there's going to be an issue on having gear ready. I think the issue right now, with a lot of the wharves in disrepair, is having a place to put our gear. We need to have our gear close to the water for us to be able to load on setting day. I don't think the amount of gear available will be the issue. It will be more about having the infrastructure in place to allow us to set our gear safely.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Thank you, Mr. Small.
We'll now go to Mr. Morrissey for six minutes or less, please.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Chair.
What we've been hearing so far is an accurate assessment of the damage from the hurricane, which nobody disputes. Every member on this call has had a riding impacted and can see that.
My question is for Gerard.
If the Government of Canada transferred to your port authority $10 million tomorrow, could you have the wharf back in place come the first of May?
2:20 p.m.
Covehead Harbour Authority, Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association
No, we couldn't have it all back in place, Mr. Morrissey.
We'd have a pretty good shot at it if they could offer tenders and things like that. It takes a while for the tenders to get approved. It also takes a while for the engineers and stuff to design what they think they need to do to improve wharves. They have decided that they want to improve the infrastructure, and they would raise the wharves by five feet.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
That's my point. Currently, our government announced $1 billion to be prepared to get the bills from the provinces from this latest hurricane. We've announced $300 million for small craft harbours, which, to be clear, as we've said, is the first instalment. We know the bill is going to go higher.
The reality is that in my area we can't pivot on a dime. One of the areas that affects rebuilding is that of the different jurisdictions. Environmental permits are under the provincial government and they can delay, delay, delay. I was frustrated by a number of projects in my riding that were delayed because of the lack of approvals. We really need to have all departments come together and be prepared to move a lot faster than they've done in the past. We're all guilty of that, but the money is there. Getting projects under way will be the slow part.
I want to change my questions, because we've had a really good assessment of what the damage is, but nobody so far, including the four ministers who appeared, has presented this committee with what the challenge confronting governments is on dealing with climate change. We have a lot of climate change deniers who anticipate that you can do away with climate change with no cost.
My question is for Ariel.
Is there a cost to climate change? Can you deal with climate change with no costs impacting individuals? Give a short answer.
2:25 p.m.
Coastal and Marine Team Lead, Coastal Action
There definitely is a cost. I think we see that reflected here from the folks in P.E.I. and from the hardest hit areas of this hurricane. It will only continue to get worse over time, so—
2:25 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Ariel, do we all agree that the biggest contributor to climate warming is the use of carbon fuels?
2:25 p.m.
Coastal and Marine Team Lead, Coastal Action
I think that is a huge factor, yes.
2:25 p.m.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Molly from the fishers association and Gerard and Mitchell, can we agree that climate change is having a very negative impact on our coastal infrastructure and on our fisheries, one that we still don't understand?
What scares me and should scare the industry is that some scientists say that warming of the gulf by a couple of degrees could have significant impact on our lucrative lobster fishery and crab fishery. They will not be able to produce in these waters. Can we get agreement that climate change is real and that the biggest contributor to climate change is the burning of fossil fuel?