Evidence of meeting #16 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was commercial.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Fisherman, As an Individual
Yes, this came from New Brunswick and P.E.I fishers.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
These traps that were fishing for lobster, to your knowledge, what fishery may they have been a part of?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Food, social and ceremonial fisheries are supposed to be negotiated between the first nation community and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with trap limits imposed. Do you know if this occurred?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
You don't have any idea if this fishery was taking place in any pre-approved arrangement between DFO and—
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
For the number of traps that would be allowed in this fishery, were they following those regulations or stipulations?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Was this the first season that this particular fishery recorded an overall decline in the catch?
Fisherman, As an Individual
No, it has been going down for three years, probably, overall—three or four years.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Has there been a larger effort put in under fisheries outside of the regular commercial fishery in that area?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Are you familiar with how, recently, the Government of Nova Scotia established an enforcement and protection division to enforce regulations as they relate to lobster when it hits the wharf?
There is a bit of an issue between two levels of government. As lobster lands on the wharf and then moves to buyers, it is controlled by provincial regulations. You'd think that, if the other provinces had similar enforcement agencies, they could follow the path of lobster when it hits the wharf—to use that terminology—and makes its way to buyers, and then goes from buyer to buyer.
Would ensuring it follows a documented path help avoid something occurring in your area?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you for giving very good testimony here today as a young fisher in this particular area, one concerned about the future of this.
One point unique to your fishery is this: You release large female lobster. Do you think that's something the department should enforce across all the lobster fisheries in Atlantic Canada?
Fisherman, As an Individual
Yes, I really think it helps. After we started doing that, catches started going up a few years later. It would help other areas, for sure.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you for your testimony and for agreeing to appear here today.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Morrissey.
Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.
Mr. Deschênes for two and a half minutes.