Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, everyone. We really appreciate the chance to be here. I'm going to start and then Chris is going to follow. I'm here for the B.C. Seafood Alliance. That's the most representative fishing organization on the west coast, mainly representing commercial fishermen up and down the coast in virtually every major fishery on this coast.

Fisheries committee  I represent associations, basically harvesting associations in the major fisheries, so their members would be the actual fishermen who harvest fish. Broadly speaking, I think we've definitely seen a chill at every level, from harvesting to processing. It was started, I suppose, by the Clearwater decision, where it appears that the stability that everyone thought they had in their licence—that it's basically evergreen because it will be renewed each year—is simply not there anymore.

Fisheries committee  Most fishermen on the west coast are, indeed, independent. I've never experienced, myself, that people in the fishery are intimidated in terms of speaking out. We certainly have plenty of examples of young fishermen who have come into the business or who have taken over from other generations.

Fisheries committee  Virtually every fisherman in B.C. operates through a corporation, so yes, you could say that corporate interests dominate. That's because that's how the fishery is structured in B.C. Individuals are corporations for tax and liability reasons.

Fisheries committee  Do you want to take that?

Fisheries committee  It wouldn't work simply because we don't have the fish that Atlantic Canada has. That's why our fisheries have developed in really different ways. In order to solve those problems of sustainability and conservation, we have developed a system that relies on leasing, because you have to have quota to cover bycatch.

Fisheries committee  I think in some cases that is certainly justified. It's my understanding that Clearwater developed that fishery from scratch and did it with their own money. I believe they also have long indicated some willingness to find ways to bring indigenous people into the business. Yes, I think it is possible in some fisheries.

Fisheries committee  New Zealand's Fisheries Act is really clear that the purpose of the Fisheries Act is sustainable use of fish and fisheries resources for economic, social, and cultural benefits. I think what we have in the “purpose” section as drafted here is simply the tool—the proper control and management of fisheries.

Fisheries committee  Indeed. Madam Justice Humphries was the judge in the Ahousaht et al case, and those were her words: “DFO does not represent the interests of other [fishing] sectors.” That's because it's fundamentally in a conflict of interest. It has a fiduciary responsibility to first nations.

Fisheries committee  I think the judge again was very clear that willing buyer, willing seller is in the best interests of all Canadians, including indigenous peoples, and that did not happen in the Clearwater case.

Fisheries committee  I said that we represent 90% of the value that comes from the people who harvest fish. My members, as I mentioned, are mainly fishing associations, so they are licence holders.

Fisheries committee  Those are people. They employ people, and they provide good jobs up and down the coast.

Fisheries committee  I'm saying we represent 90% of the value that's harvested.

Fisheries committee  It's the landed value, the wholesale value.

Fisheries committee  Not directly, no.