Evidence of meeting #27 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 fish.
A video is available from Parliament.
President, Regroupement des pêcheurs pélagiques professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie
I'm talking about where I know, the southern part of the Gaspésie, from Carleton‑sur‑Mer to Percé.
Now, we know that there are a lot of fish on the Côte‑Nord. From Baie‑Comeau to Sept‑Îles, boats can travel 700 to 800 kilometres without stopping, and the fish are below them. Fishers can see it with their sonar. However, no tests have ever been done on the Côte‑Nord.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
However, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans seems somewhat reluctant. It's of the opinion that the resource is not at the right level to resume fishing.
You're talking about managed commercial fishing. You're saying gillnets or hooks should be used. Explain to us how that could reassure scientists.
President, Regroupement des pêcheurs pélagiques professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie
It's green. It's more protective of the resource. It's the fish that take the bait. We already have the machines to harvest those fish that way. The boats are already made accordingly. The fish come and bite the hook, we don't get in their way to then catch them. It's very selective and environmentally friendly. If you're in a school where there are only small fish, you simply turn off the machines and go to another place. It's all good. There's no downside to the process.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Deschênes.
We'll start our second round of questions now with Mr. Arnold for five minutes.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Thank you.
If you could pause the timer before I start my questioning time, I'd like to ask for an update from the chair.
At the last meeting, we passed a motion asking that it be reported to the House that the minister has failed to appear on the study on coastal and marine protections. Could you update the committee on when that report might be tabled in the House?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Sure.
I'm waiting for the report. Once I have that report, I'll table it in the House. I'm waiting on that from the clerk and the analysts.
Conservative
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Thank you.
Thank you for your patience, witnesses. We really appreciate it.
I want to start with Mr. Barlow, please.
In your opinion, are stock assessments being conducted efficiently and effectively on the herring stocks?
Conservative
Fisherman, As an Individual
It's by putting fishers on the water. That's the only way you're going to get data.
This going out and trying to get a fisher here or a fisher there with a net over thousands of kilometres of coastline is like.... You have to put your net in at six o'clock in the evening and you have to have it out at four in the morning. It's ridiculous.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Are you aware of where DFO took their direction from on how to do these herring stock assessments?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Do you know if it was directed by any science within DFO? Were there other influences?
Fisherman, As an Individual
I know that for the five-net commercial, we asked for it, because before that we were using a little net that was absolutely nothing. Even the five-net commercial fishery gives you a little more abundance if you're lucky, but you're still only one guy out there looking over thousands of kilometres of water and trying to find a fish. It's like you have to go....
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Should DFO be asking the fishermen where the fish are?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
You mentioned that the reason for the collapse of stock hasn't been addressed. Could you elaborate a little further on that? I think you said that in your opening remarks.
Fisherman, As an Individual
Well, prior to the closure in 2022—and I'm going to talk for more than just me—Prince Edward Island had been asking for different management measures—for exactly 10 years prior. We saw it coming. We were asking for 10 years for things to change, and nobody listened, with not one acknowledgement towards it in 10 years.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
In those 10 years, the stock declined to the point where it had to be closed.
Fisherman, As an Individual
I don't believe it had to be closed, but it was declining over those 10 years. I know some people would say differently, but the TAC wasn't being met. I think it was 80-some hundred tonnes.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
This sounds similar to.... My background is somewhat in fish and wildlife management in British Columbia. They do catch effort surveys asking how much time you spend on the water or, if it's wildlife, on the land in order to reach your harvest.
Has that ever been considered by DFO? Should surveying fishermen be considered regarding the actual catch effort they have to exert to catch their quota?
Fisherman, As an Individual
Yes, I guess so. It should be something that is there.
It is kind of there with the dockside monitoring program. They ask you how many nets you fished and how much you have. It's daily trips.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
On mackerel, a previous witness said they're catching their quota in two days, basically. Would you predict the same situation with herring?