Fisheries committee  In terms of reducing energy prices, we would sincerely like to have a plan, but do not. You referred to fishing boats. We know that there are different ways of lowering consumption. We believe that people are more and more aware of the need to reduce their consumption, and documenting to a greater extent the steps that can be taken to lower energy expenses on a fishing boat is one of the components of the LDC's action plan for the industry.

Fisheries committee  To answer your question, I would say that the average age of fishers in the Magdalen Islands is the same as elsewhere. Right now, our captains are between 45 and 50 years of age, on average. In the Islands, we are different from other areas in that, for the time being—and the words “for the time being” are important—we have a new generation of young fishers coming up behind.

Fisheries committee  I think you are talking about a 30 per cent drop on the markets. In the Magdalen Islands, protecting the resource is what is important, and that seems to be well in hand. A certain volume of the available lobster biomass is landed here. That does not seem to be in doubt. It is the sale of processed products that appears uncertain.

Fisheries committee  We are talking about landings in the Magdalen Islands. Just to illustrate the importance of the lobster fishing industry, let us just say that lobster landings represent more than 70 per cent of all the landings in the Magdalen Islands, and specifically, 71 per cent of the value and 34 per cent of the volume.