In the near term, I think government needs to recognize that in Canada's most valuable fishery, lobster, bait is a critical issue. We're facing a bait crisis because of conservation measures that have been enacted by the department in pelagics. I think the government needs to create pathways to connect lobster fishermen with bait through quota allocations.
I also think the government needs to consider the fact that.... We're all here today to try to preserve the future of this industry. New entrants are now faced with a competitor, and the competitor is the Department of Fisheries in its willingness and in its need to integrate moderate livelihood fishers into our industry. The government needs to take a step back and recognize that each action it takes has an unintended consequence on new entrants to the fishery. It may be harder than ever at this time for a new guy or gal to join this industry. I think that's something we all need to recognize.
In the long term, logistics will be a big part. For me, the most important thing that the government needs to do is.... It's no secret that there's a blue economic strategy being pursued by the current government. The ocean is a finite place. Even though it seems really big to everybody else, the places that fishermen need to operate in order to remain profitable can sometimes be very small. I think there needs to be a recognition by the government that small-scale users of the resource, like inshore fishermen, deserve special consideration when it comes to carving out safe and sustainable places for them to fish in the future.