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.