Fisheries committee  In the Gaspé region, I think that we all, including the indigenous groups, understand that we need a single management model and that Fisheries and Oceans Canada should be responsible for implementing it. The reason for this is quite simple. There are four indigenous bands in the

Fisheries committee  Good evening, Mr. Cormier. I'm pleased to meet with you. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and all of the scientists have always told us that we should not exploit a species for too long, to give it time and opportunity to reproduce and live properly. For lobster, it's the same thing.

Fisheries committee  As you know, there are three Mi'kmaq indigenous bands in our region, as well as the Maliseet of Viger first nation. We all participate in the advisory committee to develop proper rules and measures for the exploitation of this resource. We meet every year, and everyone comes to t

Fisheries committee  Good evening. In fact, we're going to split our time and make sure that we don't exceed the 10 minutes allotted to us. Mr. Chair and members of the committee, thank you for agreeing to hear the testimony of the 148 commercial lobster fishers from the Gaspé Peninsula represented

Fisheries committee  The Department of Fisheries and Oceans didn't hold any consultations on the application of the management measures for right whale protection. At the time, the lobster fishing industry believed that the measures would affect only snow crab fishing, which takes place in the middle

Fisheries committee  The basic principle of the United States marine mammal protection act is that whales must be protected when they're feeding. However, it's recognized that this phase requires the presence of at least a few whales, in general a minimum of three, that hunt together. The whales push

Fisheries committee  We believe that both concerns are valid. The market issue is very important, but we must still have something to sell. If we can't fish, we have nothing to sell. All the proposals submitted to the department today, but also in June when it closed the fishery, are strictly intend

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. You'll be receiving a series of documents explaining lobster fishing in Gaspésie. You must know what this is about. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, there are many disparities between the different areas. Gaspésie is a special area, as may be the case elsewhere

Fisheries committee  We would like to make one last recommendation which is a large scale recommendation. It covers all the species, and it concerns the adoption of a new Fishery Act, which died on the Order Paper the last two times around. When we do pass this new legislation, I hope it will includ

Fisheries committee  It is because of natural recruitment. The fact is that natural recruitment means the biomass is very high for a certain number of years, average at other times, and, occasionally, extremely low. When you start playing around with that natural cycle, you are asking for trouble. An

Fisheries committee  We have to act on the scientists' recommendations, because they know the resource and know how to stabilize it. Why not accept their recommendations? Why not listen to what they are saying? That is what they are there for; we are paying them, so we should start listening to them,

Fisheries committee  My comment is along the same lines as what Mr. Diotte said. I no longer attend meetings of the Rock Crab Advisory Committee. I participated for 10 years, but I decided to stop, because when you go to the meetings, you realize just how much control the traditional crab industry ha

Fisheries committee  My name is O'neil Cloutier, and I am the Executive Director of the Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie. Today I am representing some 200 multi-species inshore fishers holding primarily lobster licences, and for whom 30% to 40% of their income has been d