Fisheries committee  As far as redfish quotas are concerned, as long as we manage to obtain them, if we want to guarantee a certain profitability for the fishing enterprise, or at least guarantee it a minimum income to ensure its survival, there should be support and monitoring measures. Mr. Cormier asked earlier what quota would be necessary.

Fisheries committee  Exactly.

Fisheries committee  I had the opportunity to go to Iceland to see how these people work. Get this: they greeted us nicely, took us to their factory, welcomed us in their cafeteria and served us coffee, period. In other words, they thanked us for coming, but they certainly weren't going to give us their secrets.

Fisheries committee  No. It was very clear.

Fisheries committee  We think the minister's plan isn't working and won't work. It's with a view to forgetting shrimp altogether that I said earlier in my opening remarks that we wanted a starting quota of 25,000 tonnes allocated exclusively to shrimpers. More specifically, you're asking me what the necessary number of pounds or tonnes would be.

Fisheries committee  Should things not change, we believe that virtually no shrimp industry in Atlantic Canada would be able to continue to operate. We'd then have to look at a licence buyback program. We've started to work with our fishers on that. These fishers are going to do everything they can to try to survive, because this fishery is important to them.

Fisheries committee  Thanks to all. A big thank you for calling this emergency meeting. Thank you also to Mr. Serge Cormier for inviting the Fédération régionale acadienne des pêcheurs professionnels to appear before you today. First of all, a short flashback where as soon as the small redfish appeared in the summer of 2011, we immediately sounded the alarm to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and told them that we were going to have significant issues in our fishery and the shrimp industry if we did not act immediately.

Fisheries committee  I think there is definitely room for improvement. The nine quadrants that are being closed are huge areas; they are large spaces. We have already proposed to the department measures to shrink these areas, as well as to expand the fishing grounds in a way that is safe for the whale.

Fisheries committee  Ms. Desbiens, the committee is in place.

Fisheries committee  It has been operating for a number of years. Let me explain what it does. First, it finds the ideal date when the fishing area is ice-free, and second, it looks at whether it's possible to open the fishery safely. Everyone is at the table right now: fishers' associations, processors, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as I said earlier, the Canadian Coast Guard, Environment Canada, since we know you can't open the fishery in a stormy period, as well as first nations.

Fisheries committee  I think you are very familiar with this issue. I've seen you debate it.

Fisheries committee  The Americans are not on the committee. We have to remember that we are still talking about a resource that belongs to Canadians. I think we have to exercise our power and we do it well in this regard. However, I can tell you that the Americans are watching our work very closely.

Fisheries committee  It is very clear to us that the season should open at the same time for everyone. Otherwise, some harvesters have an advantage over others. Fishing area 12 is a large area, and it may seem huge to someone who isn't familiar with the area. Where are the crab concentrated? Where is the resource concentrated?

Fisheries committee  Yes, I completely agree with you on that. That's an idea we would happily support anytime. We are at the Canadian Coast Guard's mercy, because we're the lowest priority. Clearly, the Coast Guard's purpose is first and foremost to protect people, so the fishery comes second. In many cases, that's really the problem and the season gets delayed.

Fisheries committee  What went on before 2018 was that the Coast Guard was always there with icebreakers to free up ports, mainly, to make the fishery zone accessible. With the fact of the presence of right whales, you try to fish as early as possible, before the right whales arrive, placing extra pressure—a lot of pressure, actually—on everybody in the industry.