Fisheries committee  In terms of egg production, it is only the increase in the legal minimum size.

Fisheries committee  No, it can be an appropriate measure but, in terms of numbers and efficiency, it really is of fairly limited significance. I am not saying it is negative, but it is not a highly effective measure, compared to increasing the legal minimum size.

Fisheries committee  No, part of the production goes to the United States and part stays on the Quebec market, primarily in Montreal.

Fisheries committee  Right now, that is not a problem here in the Magdalen Islands. There are some, but it is not an epidemic. We have taken a great many steps to raise awareness among people coming in, including tourists or others who arrive by boat—in sailboats, for example. We are very proactive.

Fisheries committee  You are absolutely right, Mr. Blais. The graph speaks for itself. There is an almost linear progression in terms of the increase in lobster fishing enterprises. The graph illustrating gross and net revenues leads to an inescapable conclusion. Starting in the year 2000, one has the sense that any increase in gross revenues went into covering expenses.

Fisheries committee  In the Magdalen Islands, most of the measures taken were suggestions made by fishers. As I pointed out earlier, it is important for association leaders to be convinced and for them to convince their colleagues. There is a special situation in the lobster industry. You already know this, because there are lobster fishers in all of your communities.

Fisheries committee  That is a broad question with three important parts to it. With respect to jurisdiction, fisheries administration was transferred to the Province of Quebec early in the century. It was only in the 1940s that the transfer of fisheries administration from the Magdalen Islands to the Province of Quebec was finalized.

Fisheries committee  The only difference is that we bring our product to market in May, whereas the other provinces start to do that a little earlier. In New Brunswick, it is two weeks earlier. They end their season in late June, whereas in our case, it is more like early July. In the United States, the peak period is from July to October.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much and welcome to the Magdalen Islands. I especially want to thank you for giving us this opportunity to express the concerns of people in the lobster fishing industry and the community that depends on it. Today, I am accompanied by the President of the Association des pêcheurs propriétaires des Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Mr.

Fisheries committee  Your first question seems important to me. I have been there for 25 years now, but not always as a fisherman. There have been many changes when we look back and compare past departmental budgets with current budgets. The change amounts to 50%, if I understand the question correctly.

Fisheries committee  I will take a few seconds, if I may. We often make the connection between the harbour and the fishers, from what I can hear at the committee. However, there is an important connection that is a historical one, which has always existed, and which is becoming more and more important.

Fisheries committee  No, it refers only to the fishing vessels.

Fisheries committee  You are absolutely right. You talked about preserving our infrastructures. Those future breakwaters would most certainly protect or prolong their useful life. With respect to the costs, I mentioned earlier that it would be around $800,000 but that is increasing. If those breakwaters do not result in a reduction in that $800,000 cost, then at least they would prevent future budgets from being used for more dredging.

Fisheries committee  I will repeat once again that this was not our choice: we were put on the map, right in the middle of the gulf, on the Magdalen Islands. This is a very good fishing area. We are dealing with the problem of sand deposits. Of course there are solutions. All of the port authorities are suggesting solutions to stem these sand deposits.

Fisheries committee  I could comment on that. Climate change is having a significant effect on several areas. Once again, however, you need to look at our situation: we are in the middle of the Gulf, therefore we are extremely affected by storms. Studies were undertaken by a group of specialists.