Fisheries committee  The position we're taking is that we need a three-part approach to rationalization: a cash input from the federal government, a financial input from the provincial government, and money from the industry itself. We're talking with the minister's office, ACOA, the provincial government, and among ourselves about the possibility of a cash input coming from the community adjustment program.

Fisheries committee  I think a lot of it goes back to DFO regulatory measures over the years or over the decades. In the Northumberland Strait, back in the early 1980s, there was a massive amount of lobster, where there are hardly any today. People were landing 40,000 and 50,000 pounds of lobster in a two-month season.

Fisheries committee  Kenny fishes LFA 24, so he's probably in the best position to explain.

Fisheries committee  I think, Mr. Kamp, if you look at LFA 25, for example, in the western part of the Northumberland Strait, with the fishermen from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia there are probably over 850 fleets at work in that fall season. The LFA 26A in the eastern portion of the strait, with Nova Scotia and P.E.I. combined, has easily over 800 fleets fishing that season.

Fisheries committee  There is a similar consolidation taking place in New Brunswick processing facilities as well. The Barry Group from Newfoundland purchased a number of facilities and just simply closed them down. Now I think they're left with three operating plants, and we don't know if they're going to operate this lobster season or not.

Fisheries committee  I could add to that and say that the major issue here in the southern gulf is the grey seal herd, not the harp seal we hear about in terms of the harvest. It's the grey seal herd. Their primary rookery is Sable Island. This year alone there will be 58,000 pups born on Sable Island.

Fisheries committee  I couldn't give you a number, Mr. Stoffer, but it's probably triple what is there now.

Fisheries committee  In terms of processors, there are only five actual processors. There are other buyers who come in from New Brunswick and buy and ship it back to New Brunswick for processing there, and then there are the so-called commission buyers who may sell to the live market and then sell part of their purchase to some processor or others.

Fisheries committee  Yes, sir. In terms of the Atlantic fishery, if we take it as a whole as opposed to just Prince Edward Island, I think the fishery is in dire need of a total restructuring. We look at Newfoundland and the situation they face there. Looking at the situation in southwest Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy, they have problems of their own.

Fisheries committee  Sir, in P.E.I., for the most part, I think, the resource is abundantly stable. The province has its own lobster biologist working strictly with the P.E.I. lobster stocks. His research has been going on now for close to a dozen years. Last year, in 2008, the landings in LFA 24, which is our north shore, were 65% above the 40-year average.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to introduce Mr. Ken Drake, who is the president of the P.E.I. Fisherman's Association. I'll begin by saying welcome to the members of the standing committee and the ladies and gentlemen. First let me welcome you to Prince Edward Island. It's not often that a Commons committee of this stature makes the opportunity to visit our Island province.