Fisheries committee  I think it comes down to money. I think there needs to be investment by provincial and federal governments in Atlantic Canada to develop logistics that are independent of lobster buyers and lobster shippers. It's clearly a conflict for somebody to be buying lobsters at the dock,

Fisheries committee  Yes, certainly the cost would be greater.

Fisheries committee  In Nova Scotia, the licensing of fish buyers and processors is a provincial matter, but I think there is a role for the federal government to play, especially when it comes to foreign ownership. It seems to me that the onus switches at that point to the federal government to stan

Fisheries committee  In the near term, I think government needs to recognize that in Canada's most valuable fishery, lobster, bait is a critical issue. We're facing a bait crisis because of conservation measures that have been enacted by the department in pelagics. I think the government needs to cre

Fisheries committee  Yes. I think what we've seen is that companies that were attempting vertical integration through trust agreements have diverted to other legal mechanisms, be they controlling financial agreements or supply agreements. These agreements demand that harvesters deliver their lobster

Fisheries committee  I don't have the numbers right here.

Fisheries committee  One thing it means to the inshore fishery, which is more subtle to discern, is that it would create downward price pressure on the industry, allowing Clearwater to put lots more lobsters onto the market in advance of the opening of the winter lobster fisheries in southwest Nova S

Fisheries committee  I think it was clear to all fishermen that the entry of Chinese buyers into the marketplace has initially had an upward influence on price. Lobster fishermen, prepandemic and during the pandemic, were enjoying good lobster prices. I think the fear lies in the conglomeration. Th

Fisheries committee  We wouldn't be party to what they're paying, but I suggest they're paying really high prices for these companies. The other thing we're seeing is the original ownership of the companies nominally staying in place, which I believe is an attempt to retain the personal relationshi

Fisheries committee  Yes, I've heard the same reports as well. It's putting Canadian-owned buyers at a disadvantage, clearly.

Fisheries committee  My expertise is in fisheries management and in fisheries, not in regulations, but I think that there needs to be some type of an ownership test applied to the corporations that are involved. If they're found to be in violation, the quotas they're possessing should be returned bac

Fisheries committee  I certainly do. I think that the dire and sad situation of independent inshore fishermen in British Columbia should be a warning to everybody in this room. The government and fishermen should work together and do everything we can to prevent a similar situation from destroying e

Fisheries committee  Most fish harvesters in Atlantic Canada have long-standing relationships with the people who buy their seafood from them. Frequently they're provided with other services at the dock as an incentive to continue to sell. The concerns that are being raised by the industry are about

Fisheries committee  Thanks for the question, Mr. Perkins. I'm really happy to hear you raise that issue. I think that one of the most important things that government can do is ensure national Canadian control of our logistics chain within the country. It's not something that should be privately c

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. Royal Greenland is a corporation wholly owned by the government of Denmark. They have made acquisitions in Nova Scotia of A&L Seafoods and of Quin-Sea in Newfoundland. It's one of Newfoundland's largest processors. None of these actions are in ke