Fisheries Committee on Oct. 9th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

We're over time here. It's an important question, so I hope that the department can submit that answer in writing.

With that, we're going to move to our next questioner.

Mr. Cormier, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Deputy Minister Gibbons, thank you again for visiting us this summer. I think you saw that the associations and municipalities we met with have legitimate concerns and want to work collaboratively with the department. I think that in recent years, there may have been a lack of openness in this regard, but we are starting to see a little more openness on the part of the department.

Today, I want to better understand the mechanisms by which changes could be made because, in the near future, the committee will be studying Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s 2025–2026 Departmental Plan and reviewing the Fisheries Act.

Lately, I have seen many posts on social media reporting that fishery officers have made seizures or arrested people who were illegally fishing for crab or lobster, among other species. These posts include the names of the individuals apprehended, their violations, and the amount of the fine they were given. I really think this is something that should be done more often. That way, people might think twice before fishing illegally. The possibility of having their name appear in social media could discourage many people.

However, I find the fines insufficient. For example, let’s take someone who goes lobster fishing after hours and brings back a catch that includes females: the fine is $250. I would go back the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that. How can these fines be increased? Is it your department that decides? I assume it’s not just you and that the Department of Justice must also be involved.

In short, I would like you to explain how we could modernize all this.

[Annette Gibbons]

The department is studying this issue. The committee’s review of the Fisheries Act will also provide an opportunity for the department to review this matter. The department is also in the process of reviewing and making changes based on stakeholder proposals for amendments to the act, regulations and departmental policies. All of this is on the table, and it is in this context that we could look at these issues.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Okay. That’s perfect.

Ms. Gibbons, I would like to settle once and for all another issue that I have been talking about for years, which I have discussed with you and with the minister as well: the sale of fishing licences, which are leaving our regions.

If I am not mistaken, my region has lost over 10 snow crab fishing licences over the past 10 years, which have gone to Quebec and other regions. Once again, this is due to residency requirements, among other things, which differ from one province to another, such as New Brunswick and Quebec, for example. I am convinced that if fishing licences had been taken away in Quebec, it would probably have led to a major outcry. Unfortunately, our permits are sold in Nova Scotia, Quebec and pretty much everywhere else, and it seems that we cannot stop this.

Some transactions are highly questionable. For example, some very young people or people with no fishing experience are buying $20-million licences. Where are they getting the money? Even though the Fisheries Act is intended to stop these questionable transactions, it seems that our licences continue to be sold to other regions. Recently, the sale of two other licences to other regions was under consideration.

How can we stop the sale of licences to neighbouring regions, such as crab fishing licences, which are in the ports of Shippagan and Caraquet? How can we ensure that they remain in Shippagan and Caraquet and are not sold in Gaspésie or Nova Scotia, regions that could also keep their licences?

We have been talking about this for 10 years. How can we stop this?

[Annette Gibbons]

It is true that there are subtle differences in practices from one region to another. That is for sure. However, I will be happy to look into this issue further.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Are residency criteria set by the provinces or by the federal government?

[Annette Gibbons]

When you talk about the provinces, are you referring to the provincial governments?

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Yes.

[Annette Gibbons]

The answer is no. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is still responsible for the criteria.

However, since many fisheries decisions are made by the department’s regional offices, department practices vary from region to region.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Could fishers’ associations play a role and request that licences no longer leave their region?

[Annette Gibbons]

They certainly could. These differences are the result of consultations conducted over the years. Often, they are not changed because fishers in a particular region do not request it. This is what we see with the various policies—

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

If I understand correctly, they are not asking for it—

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Thank you very much, Mr. Cormier. That concludes your speaking time.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Patrick Weiler]

Mr. Deschênes, you have the floor for six minutes or less.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Ms. Gibbons, I would like to return to the issue of exploratory lobster fishing licences. I would like people in eastern Quebec, namely the Îles de la Madeleine, the Côte‑Nord and the Gaspésie, to be kept informed of the next steps. Phase 1 of exploratory fishing has been launched, but I would like to know the process that will lead to phase 2 and when you will have to decide whether or not to open a new exploratory fishery.

I understand that you will have to analyze the scientific data on catches, the results of which we received this week. Do these results take into account first nations catches?

[Annette Gibbons]

We take all catches into account.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Okay. So the first nations are providing you with the figures on this year’s catches under their exploratory fishing licence. Is that correct?

[Annette Gibbons]

I don’t know if we have obtained them, so I can’t confirm that, but we are in discussions about it.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Okay, but I understand that it will come.

[Annette Gibbons]

Yes, definitely. We request this information and our policy is to obtain catch data from everyone.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Do the first nations agree to share this data with you?

[Annette Gibbons]

I believe discussions are under way with first nations. I think they have expressed some concerns. However, as I said, it is the department’s policy to request that catch data be provided to us.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Okay. So discussions are under way.

[Annette Gibbons]

Yes, that is indeed the case.