Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. Canadians have shown a tremendous interest this year in taking 60 per cent of the quota assigned to Canada by NAFO.
I am informed that in the 35 to 40-foot category somewhere between 200 and 500 boats are now gearing up to participate in the fishery. From the sixty-five to one hundred foot category, five vessels are now gearing up. From the fifty-five to sixty-five foot category, forty vessels are now gearing up.
For the first time in a decade Canadian offshore vessels, vessels from fisheries products, internationals and national sea, are going to the offshore to catch turbot to take the Canadian share. One left yesterday at noon. One will leave in 45 minutes. They are going out on the continental shelf beyond 200 miles and they are going to take Canada's share of the turbot quota.