Fisheries committee  I can talk about the impact of seining, but I can't provide specific figures. Herring caught by seine are a variety of sizes, ranging from young herring to older fish. In contrast, gillnets catch only herring that are four years of age or older. Seining does have an impact, and

Fisheries committee  I don't have that information with me.

Fisheries committee  There are lots of studies on purse seines.

Fisheries committee  I believe that the stocks are being assessed this week and that the advisory committee will be meeting next week. Our next steps for the minister will be based on the information provided and on what the fishermen tell us.

Fisheries committee  I will defer to Kent.

Fisheries committee  If we're talking about the spring spawners—

Fisheries committee  Okay. In the fall, in area 16B, the quota was almost met.

Fisheries committee  In the southern gulf, since area 16B is located there, scientific activity isn't limited to counting landings at the dock. A scientific survey is also conducted each year, during which a cruise ship equipped with a trawl and sonars measures the herring biomass in the area.

Fisheries committee  It starts in September. Depending on the weather, it can take four to five weeks. It takes place throughout the southern gulf. Our scientific data for the southern gulf is actually very reliable when it comes to herring.

Fisheries committee  I have part of an answer. The carcasses that are left over are used sometimes for bait, frozen for bait, or they're sent to fish meal plants.

Fisheries committee  That's right. Yes.

Fisheries committee  I can't answer that question.

Fisheries committee  What we have is what's exported, so based on the exports, whatever is not exported is probably used either as bait or—

Fisheries committee  The department doesn't award grants.

Fisheries committee  Dockside monitoring is carried out at the fishermen's expense. For the herring fishery in Chaleur Bay, more fishermen land in New Brunswick than in Gaspésie. As a result, it's easier for dockside monitoring companies to monitor 100% of catches in New Brunswick than in Quebec.