Fisheries committee  Gardner mentioned that a licence is a licence is a licence. I have some difficulty with that. The permanent ones have licences. The first nations have licences. The others formed a licence because a licence wasn't given to each of them. It was an allocation to offset their losses in lobster when the abundance was high.

Fisheries committee  They are allocations.

Fisheries committee  When these allocations are listed for sale, they're not listed as licences for sale; they're listed as allocations. So they can form a licence, but then they can be sold off individually. And there have been a lot for sale recently. As far as quota going up and down, when it goes back down we are going to make the sacrifices again.

Fisheries committee  I'll comment on the relationship aspect. I'm happy to say that over the years--and I'm talking about snow crab specifically--we've been able to develop strong relationships with DFO resource management and non-native fishers. We've made a lot of strides in that. To answer your question, yes, relations are good.

Fisheries committee  I'd like to just comment on the question you asked, but I want to make a comment first. With no disrespect, Gerry, I wanted you to see, and not to see double. I don't know where you get this four-group stuff. It is three groups. And you asked about the industry and how we're getting along out in the water and stuff like that, and are we bumping into each other, and are there too many traps.

Fisheries committee  I just want to make sure that you guys hear me, first of all, and do you guys see me as well? I'm first nation; are you able to see me?

Fisheries committee  Great, because it doesn't seem as though all the parties want to acknowledge first nations participation in this, so I just want to make sure I'm seen, right? First of all, I want to welcome you guys to Unama'ki, also sometimes known as Cape Breton. My name is Leonard Denny. I am the chief executive officer for Crane Cove Seafoods, which is owned by Eskasoni First Nation.