Evidence of meeting #4 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 redfish.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Thank you.
I find it interesting that there is only 25% on-board monitoring, when we have fisheries on the west coast that often—or sometimes—can't fish because observers aren't available and they have to have 100% coverage.
How is it you're able to justify 25% on-board monitoring?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Again, this was arrived at in collaboration with our harvesters. We also have 100% dockside monitoring that accompanies this. It is something that we work with all harvesters across all fleets on, and it is a challenge.
We're also experimenting with electronic video monitoring in this fishery.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Have there been any issues with on-board monitors? We have heard previously at this committee from on-board monitors who basically—let's be politically correct—say their working conditions are not the best.
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
From what I've heard while chairing the advisory committee for this fishery, the biggest challenge has been the availability and cost, frankly, of the at-sea observers.
We've also heard that at-sea observers actually prefer working on larger vessels due to the accommodation and food provided.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Thank you.
DFO prioritized eligible candidates for the exploratory lobster fishery licences belonging to one of the fleets identified as a priority by DFO in lobster fishing areas LFA 17 and LFA 19, and “fishers active in fisheries involving distressed or less profitable resources” in LFA 18.
Which fleets were considered a priority in each LFA?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'll turn to Madame Lemire.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
If you could, while you're at it, Madame Lemire, can you provide the criteria considered to determine which fleets should be identified as being a priority?
Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Regional Director, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Our key guidelines for developing the plan were to prioritize the first nations, fleets in precarious situations and the next generation. To determine the priority fleets, Fisheries and Oceans Canada consulted with associations representing the three marine sectors in order to fully understand the realities and challenges faced by each sector.
For example, the priority fleets in the Îles‑de‑la‑Madeleine sector included shrimpers…. No, wait a minute. I'll take a moment and start again.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Sorry, Ms. Lemire, but your time is up. You can revisit this topic in the next round of questions.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Could I get that in writing, if she's not able to provide it further?
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Absolutely.
With that, we're going to go to Mr. Connors for five minutes.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
My question will be for Mr. Williams.
At the beginning, you stated that only 5% of the 60,000 TAC was caught two years ago and, I think, 4% or something last year.
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
That's correct.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
What are we anticipating the total allowable catch to go to? What is the biomass growing to? Are we going to be able to increase that amount?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We think that the total allowable catch, which is set at 60,000 tonnes, is more than adequate in terms of what's required for this fishery and that participation. From a science perspective, it is well within the parameters of what would be considered suitable for a stock in a healthy zone such as this one.
The larger issues often come down to bycatch, which we have to be careful of but which we monitor.
The low landings that you're seeing aren't a reflection of the health of the stock but rather market conditions.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
That leads to my next question. We talked about market conditions. Is it about price, the overall global economy, the global demands? Can you give us some idea of what some of the conditions are?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
There are a number of factors. One is that international markets, tariffs, are affecting not just this fishery but many. The fact that this had been closed.... There is also market awareness that needs to be developed, and markets need to be penetrated in that regard.
We are, indeed, investing and partnering with others to develop new product lines. That is something we're working with harvesters on.
Many other challenges are not unique to redfish in terms of the cost of fuel, labour, at-sea observers and that sort of thing. That's in part why we made significant changes to our management approach this past year, to address those and to provide additional funding through the AFF to those harvesters.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Hopefully, as this industry grows, demand improves.
What about our processing capacity? Where are we at with the processing capacity? Do we have the ability to process as the quantities increase?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We heard from some organizations that the inshore sector, in particular, faces limitations with respect to processing. That's less of a concern for others. I think it really depends on the fleet and, perhaps, the product they are developing. I would think this would improve over time.
Earlier this year, we were able to respond to industry requests and open the fishery, using experimental licences during a previously closed time. That fish was landed, processed and shipped to foreign markets very quickly. The industry is able to adapt when provided the opportunities.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
As one final question from me, how is the amount of time they're on the boats and the data that is collected used to...? With the onboard observers and everything like that, can you explain a bit about how that is used to determine the size, biomass, stability and sustainability of the economics of the fishery?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Certainly, all of the inputs from our at-sea observers are collected and contribute to the overall science.
Perhaps my colleague, Monsieur Savaria, has further information in terms of how that science is collected from both harvesters and our own scientists.
Jean-Yves Savaria Regional Director of Science, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The information is collected and used mainly to monitor bycatch fisheries. We take the information into account during our peer review processes in order to prepare our scientific opinions. These opinions are then provided to fisheries managers for decision‑making purposes.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Connors.
Mr. Deschênes has the floor for two and a half minutes.
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Lemire, did you receive an answer to my question regarding the number of traps allocated to indigenous people in zone 18?