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.
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
In fact, we did look at those numbers. Based on what we expected would be landed value, there simply wasn't any way, mathematically, to make that allocation work while also respecting any type of regional fairness across the board.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
You're saying it's mathematically impossible for this fishery to be profitable for shrimpers. As I told you earlier, I think 10% is a start, at least, because the historical shares were set aside. Now there's a new fishery.
Let's look at shrimpers. If the department knew it was mathematically impossible for shrimpers to make a profit off the percentage of quota they received and the price per pound they could earn, why not allocate much higher percentages to the shrimpers? The department knew they were struggling compared to offshore fleets and so on. Why not come up with a formula that would have ensured they could make a profit? Why not allocate a higher percentage to shrimpers?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
There are a number of things to keep in mind there. Those harvesters also have access to this allocation through other licences or other fleets that they may be a part of, such as the inshore. They also have access to the reserve allocation and other licensing measures that provide flexibility, such as buddying up.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
That concludes our fourth round. I'm going to an abridged fifth round here. We'll have two and a half minutes for each of the three questioners.
We'll start the next round of questions with Mr. d'Entremont for two and a half minutes.
Conservative
Chris d'Entremont Conservative Acadie—Annapolis, NS
Thank you very much.
I'll ask some quick data questions before we finish up today.
What were the 2025 bycatch rates in redfish? Were any closures triggered by it?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Bycatch was low overall. I do have that specific information here. We didn't exceed more than 10% in any particular fishery. In short, there was plenty of room.
Conservative
Chris d'Entremont Conservative Acadie—Annapolis, NS
What proportion of the 60,000-tonne TAC is realistically harvestable, given the current markets, gear and processing?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
That's a good question, Mr. Chair. It's speculative, and perhaps an industry representative might be better suited to answer it.
Conservative
Chris d'Entremont Conservative Acadie—Annapolis, NS
In the data you are collecting right now, you have an idea of how much of that TAC is actually being caught.
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
That's right. We're on pace to exceed last year's landings.
Conservative
Chris d'Entremont Conservative Acadie—Annapolis, NS
I have one final, quick question.
What is the timeline to publish the exploratory lobster findings and a decision framework for any permanent licence?
Again, we're still talking about exploratory here. When do those exploratories become permanent licences in the gulf?
Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'll turn to Madame Lemire.
Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Regional Director, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'm sorry, could you repeat the question?
Conservative
Chris d'Entremont Conservative Acadie—Annapolis, NS
Thank you.
What is the timeline to publish exploratory lobster findings and a decision framework for any permanent licence?
We're in exploratory. How long and what kind of decision framework will be taken for permanent licences in the future?
Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Regional Director, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Every year, we analyze the data we gather. We have to analyze the results annually to determine whether to continue the exploratory phase the following year or adjust the plan.
Usually, the exploratory phase takes several years. That can vary depending on how the resource responds and the information we get about how the fishery is working, fishers' observations and so on. This takes several years. We don't have a specific timeline with a point at which we can say whether the fishery can go commercial or not.
This phase usually takes at least five years.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. d'Entremont.
Next, we'll go to Mr. Cormier for two and a half minutes.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to move on to another subject. I want to talk about the lobster fishery.
Ms. Lemire, you said earlier that the lobster resource is healthy in this area in particular. Is that true?
Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Regional Director, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The latest lobster stock status indicates that the resource is in good health in fishing areas in Quebec.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
What data are you using to determine that the lobster resource is healthy? At virtually all of the small boat harbours, there's no monitoring when boats land their catch. There's monitoring for crab, though. Every time a crab boat comes into port, someone records how many pounds of crab it lands. Nobody does that for lobster, so what data do you have to go on to determine that the lobster resource is so healthy?
I'm a fisherman's son. My father is retired now, but I'm well aware of how lobster catch landing works, so what data is the department using to say that the resource is so healthy when landings are not monitored?
Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Regional Director, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'll let my colleague, Mr. Savaria, our regional director of science, explain how they're assessing the status of the lobster stock.
Regional Director of Science, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Stock status assessment is based on several factors, including abundance, demographics and fishing pressure. We also have observers aboard vessels to conduct sampling. Since 2011, we've conducted surveys after each fishing season to assess the fishable biomass for the following year.
These are some of the factors—
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Would you agree that we would probably have better scientific data if landings were monitored at all small boat harbours that serve the lobster fishery?
Regional Director of Science, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
In science, it's our job to get the most accurate data possible, so obviously—
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Don't you think counting the number of lobsters every time a fisher comes into port would be a way to get accurate data?
Regional Director of Science, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Anything that can make our reports more accurate is welcome. We certainly consider all of the available information. That's why, as I said, we've been conducting end-of-season assessments for several years now to estimate the biomass available for the following season.