Fisheries Committee on June 1st, 2026

[Chief Andrea Paul]

Based on the information I would have known.... I was chief for my community for 12 years. We're a fishing community. The best example I can give is, when we would have conversations or consultation—whatever you may call it—with DFO, we were able to come together and have meaningful conversations with regard to fisheries in our area. The piece I really liked was that they did listen to what the historical context of our fisheries looked like and to how we could come together to align the priorities of DFO and the community to figure out the best path forward.

There have been instances when we have come together to have that conversation and to respectfully listen to the nation with regard to the science that they've held since time immemorial. It's something that would have been passed along over the years.

As a chief who was not a fisher, it was absolutely interesting to be in the room to hear those conversations and to hear the respect from both parties as to moving forward on decisions.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Thank you very much.

My next question is for—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Excuse me, Mr. Klassen. I think Mr. MacDonald is on now.

Thank you.

[Chief Andrea Paul]

Okay, thank you.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

It's okay. I'll move to another question for Mr. McLinton or Mr. Dovey.

You talked about the prawn decision coming quite late. I couldn't remember if you said when the committee met. The decision was made mid-May, and I'm wondering if you can talk a bit about the delay and why there was about a two-month delay from the time the committee met until the decision was made.

[Jason McLinton]

If it's all right, Mr. Klassen, I'll defer to Mr. Dovey on that, but I will underscore that these impacts have very real consequences. I thank Mr. Dovey for speaking to his specific experience, but it's negative on harvesters, it's negative on their employees, and it's negative on the communities they serve.

Mr. Dovey, I'll defer to your experience on that specific question.

[Grant Dovey]

Thank you, Jason.

Thank you, Mr. Klassen.

The advisory committees were completed in the fall as per normal, and usually the IFMP is released some time closer to the beginning of the new year.

The fishery opened May 13. Prior to that, the IFMP was released at the end of April, and then we didn't have an official fishery notice confirming that date until six days before the opening. That's the timing, which is really unworkable for coordinating your crew and activities leading up to an opening.

We don't know why it took so long. It seemed like the IFMP and the target date were never changed from the fall meetings, but the process needs to change within DFO. I'm not sure what's happening in the background that delays things.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Ernie.

Now I go to Mr. Champoux for two and a half minutes, please.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Wareham, I imagine that in your industry, having predictability is a challenge. I imagine it's difficult to get organized based on the variables we discussed earlier, such as the different dates for the opening of fishing seasons, which is often late, and for the closing of fishing seasons, which is sometimes early, sometimes late, as well as the other factors that come into play.

How do you see this kind of uncertainty? Are things being done properly to try, at least as far as the government is concerned, to give your industry as much predictability as possible?

Do you honestly think it could be done better?

Are you critical of the way the Department of Fisheries and Oceans does things, for example?

[Alberto Wareham]

We could do a little better with the opening date of northern cod. As I said, we are working on that this year. The government has heard our concerns of last year. They moved the advisory meeting ahead, as I said.

At the same time, we have workers who are expecting to come to work. We have customers who are expecting product. I had an email this morning about when the first load of northern cod for 2026 is going to arrive in Europe. I don't know when it's going to open yet, so I can't explain to people when it's going to arrive. There's packaging and there are many other things that you have to get ready for.

All you do is the best job you can. Working with the department as best we can to get the fishery open is the solution.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Do you feel that the communication is effective? Do you sometimes feel like you are the last to be informed about decisions that are made, or do you feel like you are in the loop early enough?

Does this allow you, at best, to be prepared or to anticipate things?

[Alberto Wareham]

We're in the loop early, but then it sort of takes on a life of its own. I don't know how to explain it, but as I said, in the region in Newfoundland, they have to write their report. They send it to Ottawa. Fisheries management looks at it. Science looks at it. There are multiple people who look at it, so we're definitely in the loop early, but getting the decision made seems to take the time. That seems to be the issue.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Do you feel that the measures taken for species protection, in particular, are restrictive for certain types of fishing? Is that something that should be improved?

In general, do you agree with the processes in place?

[Alberto Wareham]

The only constraint right now, which we do agree with, as I said in my opening remarks, is the spawning closure. The ecosystem is very different in 2026 from what it was in 1980 or 1990. Once we understand the updated spawning time of northern cod from a science perspective, then we could adjust the spawning closure. That may allow the fishery to start earlier. Maybe the fish are migrating earlier. That's what our study on the fisheries improvement project should be able to tell us.

In general, we do work very well with fisheries management and science. We're involved early, but we have to speed up the process in between. That is my answer.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

I want to thank the witnesses for coming, for presenting and for helping us with their expertise.

I'm going to suspend until we get the second round going.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I call this meeting to order.

I want to make a few comments for the benefit of the new witnesses.

Please address your comments through the chair. You have what looks like a globe at the bottom of your screen. You can use that for translation into whatever language you're most comfortable with.

Each witness has five minutes to present on behalf of their group.

I'd like to welcome Claire Mavin, who is appearing as an individual, as well as Ghislain Cyr, who is a retired fisherman.

We'll begin with Ms. Mavin for five minutes, please.

[Claire Mavin, Commercial Harvester, As an Individual]

Thank you, Chair and honourable members of Parliament.

My name is Claire Mavin. For over 10 years, I have fished commercially alongside my father, Doug Mavin, harvesting halibut, salmon, groundfish and prawns. I'm the fourth generation of my family to rely on this industry to sustain our livelihood.

Being raised in commercial fishing has shaped who I am. It has taught me determination, perseverance, patience and work ethic, all while allowing me to financially support myself through my university education.

Running a fishing operation requires immense preparation, complex logistics and capital investment. Every decision we make is entirely dependent on timely opening and closure notifications from DFO, and it's important in managing costs and running a fishing business efficiently.

DFO's current trend of delayed management has had severe consequences for harvesters. We saw this clearly last prawn season, when the fleet was given only a few days' notice for a closure. Boats were caught in logistically challenging situations, which increased costs for many harvesters. It impacted fishing productivity and challenged sustainable fishing practices.

This year, the pattern inverted. We were given incredibly short notice for an opening date that has historically been consistent. This lack of predictability creates immediate and unnecessary financial and physical hardships for all fishery participants.

Of deepest concern to me, however, is the management of our salmon troll fishery. Due to the incongruency of opening dates and the run timing, the majority of the stock has migrated past our area before we are granted access. This leaves approximately half of our allowable quota unfulfilled, resulting in significantly reduced earnings for the fleet, earnings that make up our livelihood after we have recovered the costs of operation.

These reduced earnings are not a result of fleet competency or skill but of departmental policy. This policy has severe personal costs. To avoid losing vital income, I am forced to miss the first few weeks of university classes each year. Meanwhile, my siblings have missed out on crucial earnings as the fishery is pushed later and later into the fall.

Due to the late opening timing, each day is precious, and we are forced to fish through unsafe weather and adversity to maximize a window that is far too narrow.

While our commercial fleet is heavily curtailed, we watch other user groups increase their harvest levels on the very fish we are prohibited from catching. Our fleet is forced to fish last, after every other user group has already been granted access.

This policy of preferential access, where the commercial sector is starved of opportunity, is unacceptable. It diminishes our industry and actively pushes the next generation out. Maintaining a professional crew is virtually impossible under these conditions, forcing captains to rely increasingly on students and part-time workers. Managing this high turnover availability is already a significant challenge for harvesters, and the department's lack of timely notice only compounds this difficulty.

I am one of four siblings. None of us plan a life in commercial fishing. We want to, but we cannot, because current policy trends give younger generations absolutely no hope for a viable future.

I urge this committee to hold the department accountable, demand transparent, standardized timelines for openings and closures, and restore equitable access to the commercial troll fleet.

Thank you, and I gratefully accept your questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

Before we go to Ghislain Cyr for his five minutes, I want to remind everyone that we have bells at 12:30 for votes at one o'clock, so I'm getting unanimous consent for us to go an extra 15 minutes at the 30-minute bell. I think I have it from everybody.

I also wanted to suggest that we've sounded you out and everyone has agreed to come back at 1:30. At 1:30 we begin an in camera session to deal with the Fisheries Act.

It's just to give you that piece of homework.

Thank you.

Go ahead, Mr. Cyr.

[Ghislain Cyr, Retired Fisherman, As an Individual]

Madam Chair, members of the committee, I want to thank you for allowing me to speak to you about issues that are important to me.

My name is Ghislain Cyr. I'm a retired commercial groundfish, pelagic fish and crab fisher, and a seal hunter.

As a committed fisher and citizen, my interest in practising sustainable, environmentally responsible fishing was grounded in an ecosystem-based vision and an understanding of the marine environment. Fishing could never be separated from the health, well-being, safety and food sovereignty of our communities. To advance these objectives, I became involved and sought out researchers in the fields of marine science, health and the social sciences. This close collaboration led to my receiving an honorary doctorate, honoris causa, from the Université Laval Faculty of Medicine, and to my becoming an ambassador for planetary health.

Drawing on these various areas of expertise, I will examine the factors that determine the opening, reopening and closing dates of marine harvesting seasons. It's a very broad topic. It requires an understanding of the specific characteristics of a species and a solid grasp of the marine system and its interactions. Decisions must be carefully analyzed and considered in a comprehensive and integrated manner. We must ensure that large spawners are preserved in order to maintain the long-term viability of a stock, as is done in the lobster fishery. We must also consider the spawning period. For example, for mackerel, it runs from May until mid-July.

Over the past ten years, everything has been changing rapidly—with temperature, predation, depredation, the absence of ice, increased food availability in certain areas, geographical shifts and so on. We are seeing changes in the patterns of several resources. Since 2017, the arrival of great white sharks, for example, has also been a contributing factor. Halibut has been in decline around the îles de la Madeleine. Sharks prey on marine mammals and fish. They are driving grey seals closer to shore, into other areas, and they will have a negative impact once again. We can expect to see the effects on salmon, beluga and other species. However, as grey seals move, this displacement contributes to the increase in cod biomass in our region.

We must also learn from past mistakes and avoid reopening under the same conditions, as happened with the three cod moratoriums. We must also identify the most appropriate and most sustainable fishing gear, based on the specific characteristics of each resource.

Mackerel is another example. Although Fisheries and Oceans Canada considers it a low‑value species, it remains vitally important for coastal communities for local culture, for its exceptional nutritional value—notably, its high omega‑3 content—and for its affordability, especially in the current economic context.

Why consider prioritizing this resource, currently under moratorium, solely for bait, when it can be a high-quality food source for people?

Mackerel is a fragile species. No mackerel should be released, as post-release mortality is close to 90%. Fish quality is higher and keeps better when caught on a hook, allowing this resource to meet everyone's needs, both for human consumption and for bait. This approach allows science to obtain more accurate data, providing a better overall picture of the biomass.

Gill nets used for mackerel result in unrecorded losses of large spawners due to suffocation. This species is of lower quality and poorly suited for human consumption.

Authorizing a mackerel fishery solely for bait and not for human consumption, using gillnets rather than hooks as many fishers and members of the public had requested, and doing so during the spawning period, is deeply problematic; moreover given that the species is under moratorium. The decision is difficult to understand, if not unacceptable.

Fishing is a privilege, not a right. The resource belongs to the community, not only to fishers. I would like fishers and decision-makers to reflect on bait sourcing. Currently, I am extremely concerned about the astronomical quantity of resources being used for bait. Reducing bait use is essential. The impact on the health of our resources and our oceans can be significant.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Can you please wrap up? Finish your sentence. Thank you.

[Ghislain Cyr]

My experience has shown that very small amounts of fish can be used as bait without reducing the harvest. In some cases, reducing bait use can actually lead to higher catches. Fish residues, such as redfish or turbot carcasses, can be added to bait for certain types of fisheries.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

I now go to Mr. Barron, president of the Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association.

You have five minutes, Mr. Barron.

[Michael Barron, President, Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association]

Good afternoon, Chair and honourable committee members. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It is always an honour to present the harvester's perspective on issues affecting the fishing industry in Atlantic Canada, especially in my home region of Cape Breton.

I currently serve as president of the Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association, and I am also an independent owner-operator of a commercial fishing enterprise. That gives me not only the responsibility of representing harvesters but also first-hand experience with the realities facing our industry every day on the water.

This study comes at an important time, as we've recently seen adjustments to lobster harvesting seasons in eastern Nova Scotia, with openings in some areas moving approximately seven to 14 days earlier. These decisions are not made lightly. They involve ongoing discussions among harvesters, port representatives, scientists and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans through both spring and fall advisory meetings.

One point I want to emphasize today is that every lobster fishing area, or LFA, is different. What works in one area does not necessarily work in another. Even within Nova Scotia, weather patterns, ocean conditions, harbour access and fishing realities can vary from port to port. For example, LFA 27 is one of the largest lobster fishing areas in the province, and that alone creates challenges. Certain wind directions may prevent safe fishing in one harbour while having little impact on another. Ice conditions, storms, sea state and harbour infrastructure also influence when it safe and practical for harvesters to fish.

Safety must remain top priority in any season-setting discussion. Harvesters are prepared to work hard, but no one should be placed in unsafe situations because of rigid timelines that do not reflect actual conditions on the water.

Another important issue is communication and consultation. The department often relies heavily on port representatives to communicate with harvesters and bring feedback forward. While the system plays an important role, it is not without challenges. You frequently hear concerns from harvesters who feel they are not properly represented or adequately consulted. In many cases, representatives are doing their best, but communication can break down in large, diverse fishing areas. Information is effective only if people trust the process behind it. Building and maintaining trust is critical.

Climate change is also becoming a major factor in DFO decision-making, and harvesters are witnessing those changes first-hand. Warmer ocean temperatures are affecting lobster movement, molting periods and the overall condition of stock throughout the season. In some areas, warming waters in the season are also creating concerns around the handling and protection of egg-bearing and buried females. Conservation measures must continue to evolve alongside the environmental changes if we want healthy and sustainable stocks for future generations.

Science absolutely plays an important role in the season-setting decisions. DFO considers stock assessments, water temperatures, conservation targets and long-term sustainability objectives. Harvesters understand the importance of protecting the resource, because our livelihoods and communities and the future depend on it. At the same time, local knowledge and practical fishing experience must continue to be respected alongside scientific advice. Harvesters spend their lives on the water, and their first-hand observations provide valuable insight that should remain part of the decision-making process.

Economic pressures are another reality that cannot be ignored. Fuel prices remain extremely high, bait prices are at an all-time high, and the price of lobster itself has not changed significantly over the last four years. Meanwhile, costs for crews, maintenance, insurance and day-to-day operations continue to rise.

This is why access to local bait sources is important. Reasonable bait conditions can help alleviate some of the financial pressures to reduce operating costs during an already difficult season.

In LFA 27 specifically, bait conditions for the upcoming season were not released until May 27, despite the lobster season already being into its third week. By that point, many of the larger mackerel had already moved on.

This is another example of why industry knowledge on the water and experience need to be relied upon more heavily in the decision-making process. This is traditionally the time of year when gaspereau and mackerel move through the area, and harvesters missed an important opportunity to help offset some of the operating costs.