International Trade committee  Absolutely. There is the owner-operator policy and the fleet separation policy. These seem to be very complicated terms, but in fact, the term “owner-operator” means that the fisher is the owner of his or her own business. Obviously, their family members can work in the business, but the fisher is the owner.

International Trade committee  Based on what we've read and what Fisheries and Oceans Canada told us in answer to our questions, nothing would put those policies at risk. However, we would still like to inject a note of caution, since this issue is so crucial for Atlantic Canada. Our fears are mostly based on the fact that some of the countries that are part of this agreement, such as New Zealand, have systems that are very privatized and very different.

International Trade committee  I admit that the international waters concern the inshore fishery a bit less. The simple answer to your question is that each sector must do its part to protect the sustainability of our resources. Concerning shellfish and lobster, which are the most important products in the Atlantic, we really succeeded.

International Trade committee  I represent fishermen, mostly. It's really the processing industry that was affected by the harmonization of standards. We received very little information on this subject. There was a certain impact, which is just beginning to be felt. Like other groups, we are trying to find the best way of harmonizing the standards and seeing what it is possible to do.

International Trade committee  If you will allow me, I would like to speak on this subject. It's a very good question, and I share the concerns that were just voiced. We have been working for five years now to try to find better solutions that suit fishers, those who wish to leave the industry, and above all those who wish to join it.

International Trade committee  Mr. Chair, the comments that were just made are very important. It is very important to continue finding new markets and new opportunities. The markets in Vietnam are extremely important for China. Products often pass through Vietnam. The markets in Australia also have an enormous economic impact on the world.

International Trade committee  I completely agree that there is enormous potential but there is still work to be done. Over the last 10 or 15 years, some very good things have been done to further highlight the value of lobster. We have 30 or 40 different products for frozen lobster alone. Over the last 15 years, innovation in the frozen lobster and lobster processing sectors has taken off in an incredible way.

International Trade committee  Yes, of course. I would like to quickly say two final things which are very important. First of all, the strategy for lobster and shellfish is to create a triangle of demand: in Asia, Europe and in North America. We depend entirely too much on North America, which represents about 86% of our exports.

International Trade committee  Yes, that's correct.

International Trade committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I don't know if the vice-chairs Mr. Hoback or Ms. Ramsey are present today. We thank you for the invitation to appear before the committee today. For a dozen years or so, I have worked for the Maritime Fishermen's Union in Shediac, New Brunswick.

International Trade committee  Can you hear me?

Fisheries committee  I apologize. Could you repeat that, Tilly?

Fisheries committee  It's quite obvious that a lot of the sales of the products we fish in New Brunswick and in Atlantic Canada depend quite heavily on the United States. The last few years have made it difficult for people in the States to go out with their families and have either snow crab for supper or lobster in a restaurant they'd normally go to, or to buy some for home.

Fisheries committee  Our comment referred to a comparison with other fisheries that have the same type of territory and have 10 times more harvesters and 27 times more traps in the water, and they are actually managing to foster a sustainable fishery. Of course, natural cycles in those other fisheries also have made for some difficulties in past years, but with some concessions and some progressive movement toward better conservation measures, 27 times more traps in the water in about the same territory demonstrates that that fishery is going relatively well in terms of increasing....

Fisheries committee  That will definitely depend on circumstances and the type of program proposed. With regard to lobster, for example, conservation measures have proven to be very effective. There is the minimum size question, for example. There are all the conservation measures that would leave more lobster in the water and would be combined with economic improvement.