Fisheries committee  Mr. Donnelly, I'll go back to your comments and Mr. Blais' comments. If we want to have a future industry, a very successful industry, it all comes back to what we're talking about here today: the return for the product. We have the richest fishing grounds in the world right off our shores, all encompassing Atlantic Canada, southern gulf, all the Labrador coast.

Fisheries committee  Mr. Byrne, in terms of the quality of 3K crab, it's been known for a long period of time now. The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government and a delegation went to Japan back in 1993, and it's been documented that there's a lot higher yield for the 3K crab product. The size is quite comparable to other areas of the southern gulf.

Fisheries committee  Mr. Kamp, as a representative for the over-40-foot fleet, I'll say the buddy-up policy is a very important policy. It has to stay in place for the long-term future success of enterprises in the over-40-foot fleet. The buddy-up policy is a form of consolidation and a form of rationalization.

Fisheries committee  Yes, Mr. Blais, on the first part of your question concerning the $1.75 as it relates in comparison to northeastern New Brunswick, I've had some conversations with fishers in the northern part of Prince Edward Island, which is pretty adjacent to the same fishing grounds. There is a major discrepancy in price for the fishers in northern P.E.I. to northeastern New Brunswick, where the traditional, well-established licence-holders and plants in that region secured the most high-end price.

Fisheries committee  Mr. Andrews, thank you for the question. First of all, in terms of the first part of your question, the $1.50 per pound that I described earlier is above board. That's right on the table. That's receipted right at the dock. In terms of bonus payments, I can only speak for myself, but doing some active negotiating prior to starting fishing this season, bonuses were a non-issue.

Fisheries committee  In terms of the product that we have to offer, as our members of the NLIFHA, the 3K crab, within the industry the Japanese market, the Japanese technicians who come to Newfoundland and Labrador, have very high standards and quality. They are fully aware, with our correspondence that we've had with Maritime buyers...and I'm not saying just one single buyer, but I've spoken directly to several buyers who have expressed extreme interest.