Fisheries committee  Well, some are, but we are relying on some very old datasets in some cases.

Fisheries committee  We do have controls over the number of hatchery fish for any particular area. They are not all marked, but we do measure and monitor. We know what's out there and what comes back versus the wild stock. We do collect that information, yes.

Fisheries committee  That would depend on the stock assessment information of the area. I would say it's variable.

Fisheries committee  DFO invests a lot of money in salmon stock assessment. There are still gaps that exist. Particularly as the ocean conditions become harder to predict and there's more variability and interest in managing more closely so that you have greater opportunities to harvest in smaller areas, you need more data.

Fisheries committee  The minister of fisheries and oceans has ultimate authority over all management decisions, so he would task the department to undertake work like that. We would do it in a consultative way. We would work with the industry and interest groups to develop the principles and guidelines, if that's what you mean.

Fisheries committee  Do you mean compensation for existing fishermen?

Fisheries committee  There are two parts to the question. The first part is on how first nations first acquired licences, when licence limitations were put into place. There were a number of programs enacted to ensure and support first nations involvement, so at the beginning licences were first allocated in a limited way.

Fisheries committee  We have had opportunities to speak to those young fishermen as well, and I do appreciate their concerns. Our fisheries continue to evolve. We regularly receive proposals for changes and we have recently as well. We do want to look at them from a fairness, flexibility and economically viable perspective, so the way we deal with proposals—and often these are industry-driven approaches to how to make changes to the fishery that worked for them and worked for their current context—is that we consult on them through our advisory processes and we seek the views and interests of people.

Fisheries committee  Perhaps I'll start, and I'm sure my colleagues will have some views on this as well. Andrew spoke to some of the statistics that were being collected, and certainly we looked at that as a question, as there is relative income across the different fisheries coasts. B.C. did come out lower, as you've described.

Fisheries committee  It was a big issue and has been decreased, but there is still something to be said. There have been a few instances of big busts related to that, so it is something we're monitoring and we do have enforcement activities under way.

Fisheries committee  It certainly is something to pay attention to.

Fisheries committee  We do have some statistics, but I don't have them available. That would be something we would have to get back to you on.

Fisheries committee  Yes. Can I just provide clarification? My response was intended to refer to the high seas fishing.

Fisheries committee  We do have quota limits in some fisheries, such as in sablefish and halibut. Andrew might be able to offer more details.

Fisheries committee  There is a difference between the stacking provisions and the licensing rules. We have two different types of licences, as you've already reflected, these vessel-based licences versus the party-based. It's essentially how the licences are held or owned. If you have a vessel-based licence, you can stack, but you don't have to stack.