Madam Speaker, this was a well-managed and sustainable fishery. This answer is making me think of Kim, who I mentioned earlier, a second-generation prawn fisher for over 30 years. He was there when DFO confirmed this process because fisheries officers agreed it was an easy and sustainable system. He said, “Now thawing a tub of tails for measurement, which takes less than five minutes if you run it under water, is not an option.”
Currently, many prawn fishers are making a significant part of their revenue within the local community. During the time of COVID, that local market has grown and supported these prawn fishers. This decision will destroy the local market. As Kim said, “People need the opportunity to purchase a good, local product. Prawns are a Canadian resource, people should have access to it.”
There are hundreds of spot fishermen who are telling us to listen. I hope the government will.