Fisheries committee  Exactly, and until they get a point--

Fisheries committee  No, he asked me. Well, the problem is that where we need rationalization is in areas where there's not enough lobster to sustain the effort in the fishery. If those gears go out, their licence is destroyed, and it'll have to close down LFAs. You're not going to take 20 fishing fleets or gears out of a certain LFA and then open it up so some other port can bring in more gear.

Fisheries committee  With regard to processing for the market, we took on a program here with short-term storage this spring. Our government found some storage on P.E.I., and we bought the excess lobster that couldn't be processed at a certain point, as it came in because of high landings, and we held it back for a while.

Fisheries committee  That's where we're coming from, too. There has to be sustainability. Whatever way we look at it, we have to talk with industry as well. There could be more money put in at the DFO level to get more science on lobster. I've talked to a number of fishermen and people in the industry since I've been minister, and the science we have on what goes on with the lobster at the bottom of the ocean is not enough.

Fisheries committee  I like the concept that's been out already where the federal government is going to put in an amount of money in the form of a grant to get these LFAs started. I think once they're started, and if they get the ability to get a couple of years.... I don't think they have to take all the gears out of the water overnight, but if they can come with a long-term plan and they get input from the federal government to start this plan, in my area of P.E.I. we would probably look at helping them out with a low-interest loan as a part of the program, or maybe no interest on the loan to get them started.

Fisheries committee  In our landings just in price alone we're probably down about $20 million on P.E.I., probably $25 million, I would say, just in the price difference from last year. As far as the $15 million is concerned, I guess we'll have to find out what the details are or if there is a cap on it or how much is....

Fisheries committee  Yes, thank you, Lawrence. That's exactly right. As I said earlier, industry has to be involved. If rationalization takes place, the commitment from industry and from each LFA is different. But they have to look at the situation, whether it be trap reduction or to lengthen the season so the processors can get the product in the right product form for the market and get it sold, instead of producing for inventory.

Fisheries committee  I'm Neil LeClair, Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development, P.E.I.

Fisheries committee  Thanks, Greg. I was looking at my watch. I'm on P.E.I. time; it's one o'clock. I figured the whole thing would be over now and I wouldn't have to say all that. I really appreciate coming here and having the opportunity to present both yesterday and today. It's been great. The event last night was a huge success in our terms.