Thank you, Chair.
I’ll now turn to you, Mr. Witzky.
You spoke of the importance of further restricting fisheries in order to protect the resource.
Quebec is also experiencing all kinds of resource problems. These days, we’re hearing a lot about the shrimp fishery. Twenty-five years ago, it was cod. Certain pelagic fisheries, such as herring and mackerel, were also shut down. This time around, we’re hearing that shrimp boats will remain docked, and that the solutions provided are neither sufficient nor adequate to ensure the very survival of our region’s fishing economy.
Are you also concerned by this situation on the Pacific Coast? I’m talking about this sort of nonchalance or lack of responsiveness, when the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is faced with conditions like those you and the fishermen of the St. Lawrence are experiencing. There’s a failure to provide a sufficiently focused and seasoned response, which means that time passes and resources end up collapsing before we can react.
Is what I’m talking about also important on the Pacific Coast?