Fisheries committee  As I've read, my recollection is that it would take a longer period between molts and that growth is less substantial. Now, that was in a very protected, small sample. We don't know exactly what would happen in ocean conditions. But I think the studies we've seen have asked about the potential projections for the ocean in 100 years, and therefore we'll have a sense of what it's going to be like at that time, and as we go forward.

Fisheries committee  It's at the science level as well. When you look at some of the assessments that we've done and at the processes we've had, we invite Maine and the University of Maine scientists to participate with us. We have a lot in common, in terms of challenges.

Fisheries committee  I'll start. Certainly in terms of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' role with respect to the fisheries, as we've said in the past our primary focus, the bottom-line focus, needs to be on ensuring that the resource is there now and for the future. That said, if you look at our prime objectives, they do speak to there being economically prosperous maritime sectors.

Fisheries committee  As Nadia pointed out, we have provided resources and we have talked to them about becoming self-funding, and they've gone a long way toward addressing the self-funding issues. But we do also have another department that is responsible for the marketing side of things, the Department of Agriculture.

Fisheries committee  I would just add one point, and then I'll ask Nadia to speak to the U.S. issue. In your assessment, isn't that really the issue? The one thing, if we look at what Geoff Irvine said to this committee, that has made an enormous difference is the Canadian dollar in this challenge, and so we don't have the levers to address these things.

Fisheries committee  Regarding that catch per unit of effort, there are two things we measure as a surrogate for abundance: one is landings and the other is catch per unit of effort. What we are seeing on average is more lobster in the same number of traps. So they're catching more lobster. But we're also seeing, as Adam said, more powerful boats, which are getting out there faster to the grounds.

Fisheries committee  We have a number of management measures in place. Adam can speak a little bit about how we might manage it differently, or what we've looked at. I will mention one thing, though, and it is the application of the precautionary approach. We have that as an objective for all of our fisheries.

Fisheries committee  Let me start, and then I'll ask Adam to make further comment on the specifics. I'll start by talking about carapace size and the department's concern, from a conservation perspective, in ensuring that there's sufficient lobster for the future. We have a concept called “SOM50”, which stands for “size at the onset of maturity”.

Fisheries committee  I'll ask Adam to speak to the issue of the first part of the question, which is whether there is a crisis and how we would characterize it, and Nadia can speak to the issue of a potential levy.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much. Thank you very much for inviting us. We're very pleased to be here to talk about the lobster fishery in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. It is our largest fishery by participation, as well as by exports and its economic contribution to Canada's fishery. We understand that the committee wanted to ask some questions around lobsters, specifically around the health of the stocks, and generally about lobster and, potentially, other issues.

Fisheries committee  It's approximately correct.

Fisheries committee  As I said before, we're talking to Ontario about this. It will vary. If we have a new operator, the sense is that we'd need to do some remediation, which we believe would cost about $1 million. If we were to take down all the facilities, return the site to nature, etc., it would be a few more million dollars than that.

Fisheries committee  Thanks for the question. The sea lamprey control program is one that Canada's been involved in jointly with the United States for many years. The primary objective of the program is to minimize sea lamprey populations in support of fish community objectives in the Great Lakes, like the rehabilitation of trout populations.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. Indeed the government did announce that we would not be operating the Experimental Lakes Area going forward. We did express a hope that we would be able to identify another operator from universities or non-government organizations that would wish to be the operator.

Fisheries committee  The issue of liability is complex. There are a number of issues. One is the actual lakes themselves and ensuring they come back, are remediated to a natural state. There are a number of facilities also that we've built in the areas. Then there are boats, docks, and slips, and all those types of things.