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
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I have only a few seconds left, so I'll ask you one last question.
Do you think the fines provided for under the Fisheries Act are high enough, or should they be increased to deter more people from making illegal landings or failing to report their catches?
Commercial Fisherman, As an Individual
I think they could be increased.
However, above all, I think that fisheries guardians and officers should work on these files. That's the problem. There's a resource—
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
You just said that you want to work on these files, but you were told not to intervene. What do you do then?
Commercial Fisherman, As an Individual
That's the problem. We need to tell the authorities who manage the fisheries that officers must apply the act to everyone. They need to focus on the more important rules that have an impact on resources and their sound management, not on rules about trivial matters. It makes no difference to the resource if someone doesn't put the boat's registration number on their fishing vessel or buoy, or if the number is written incorrectly. There are rules, but judgment must be exercised in applying the act. Ultimately, that's what's missing the most.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Cormier.
We'll conclude the round of questions with Mr. Deschênes.
You have the floor for two minutes.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here, Mr. Hébert and Mr. Noël. Based on what you said in your testimony, the mortality rate is higher than it should be. It's thought that illegal fishing could be the cause. How are you working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to combat illegal fishing?
Director general, Association des crabiers acadiens
At the last advisory committee meeting, we shared this concern about illegal landings in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. It's true: There's a difference between the natural mortality of a resource with a healthy population and the mortality of a resource exploited by a fishery. This is especially the case in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, where there is a big difference in the natural mortality rate.
We've proposed a number of ways to limit the number of illegal landings.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Is the Department of Fisheries and Oceans listening to your proposals?
Director general, Association des crabiers acadiens
We have very good collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We're trying to find solutions.
There are a number of elements to the crab fishery. In the past, everything went very well with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in terms of managing and sharing the resource. Now we want not only to find appropriate ways to limit illegal landings, but also to ensure everyone fishing for this resource is happy.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
I understand that the advisory committee listens, but is there any action? Are you seeing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans taking action against illegal crab landings?
Director general, Association des crabiers acadiens
At the start of the 2025 fishing season, fisheries officers came to meet with our association. We discussed several factors, issues and concerns we had regarding illegal landings. These fisheries officers conducted certain checks, and some fishers were found to be at fault. They're still inshore fishers.
Overall, the proposals we want to make would further limit opportunities for illegal landings. If all coastal vessels were monitored, it would completely eliminate the problem. If cameras were installed on board vessels, it would completely eliminate the problem. There are methods we could develop with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to achieve our goals and limit these illegal landings, which can have a negative impact on the stock.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Deschênes.
That will complete our questions for this panel.
I want to thank our witnesses for taking the time to meet with us, both in person and by video conference. Certainly, your testimony is going to be very helpful as we're formulating our recommendations for the report that's going to be forthcoming.
With that, we're going to suspend for a few minutes, so that the committee can pursue its meeting in camera to discuss the preliminary drafting instructions for our current study.
[Proceedings continue in camera]