Fisheries committee  If it's a federal fine under a federal act, then, of course, the money goes back to the federal Crown. If it's a provincial fine, then it would go back to the provincial government. If the judge orders restitution or some kind of other monetary penalty, then that would go to the jurisdiction that is responsible for the act.

Fisheries committee  It would, 100%. Proceeds of crime fines can be used to help combat illegal activity, and it would be a good move to support that.

Fisheries committee  The RCMP definitely would be top of the list. Then there are the CBSA, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Department of the Environment and Transport Canada, because, in some cases, these vessels being used out there on the water are not in the best of shape and could pose a hazard to navigation if something were to happen to them.

Fisheries committee  There needs to be a clear-cut intelligence-gathering group or mechanism that has all the different agencies in place. We used to call it the “Criminal Intelligence Agency of P.E.I.” It had members from DFO conservation, the RCMP and municipal police departments on it—anybody who was in an enforcement role.

Fisheries committee  I don't know what the percentage would be, but I can tell you that education is key. Agencies need to know what their roles and responsibilities are as they apply to illegal activity. If it's a fisheries issue, then we must make sure that Fisheries is the lead and that the RCMP or other agencies have a backup role to support them as required.

Fisheries committee  Departments need to work together more. I was in a situation a number of years ago, when seiner fishers came into Souris. There was a large protest at the Souris wharf. Mr. Morrissey, you would remember that. We were a small police department. How did we deal with that, as it came towards us?

Fisheries committee  I think it's a little broader than that. A prime example would be the closure of the herring and mackerel fisheries as bait fisheries for commercial fishing, yet we had no conversations with officials in other countries who were allowed to pick up that quota and fish it. I'm talking about the United States of America here.

Fisheries committee  It's completely the federal minister's role. The provincial boundaries and provincial jurisdiction and authority apply only when a species actually lands on the dock. Anything on the water side of the boat outward is in the complete control of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the minister.

Fisheries committee  I can tell you that those concerns were brought up—I'm guessing, Chair, probably around the end of 2019 or early 2020—to Minister Bernadette Jordan on behalf of all the ministers. This was an issue, and it was brought up again to Minister Joyce Murray in conversations we had with her.

Fisheries committee  I can tell you that I've always believed in one licence in and one licence out, as it applies to the lobster fishery or a species fishery. In some cases, there are individuals who fish without a licence—grey boats or black boats, as they call them—but then there are also the other individuals who can turn a fast buck.

Fisheries committee  The use of tags is a big thing that could solve a lot of problems very quickly. I agree with the audit part, but the audit has to be cross.... If DFO goes in and does an audit, or CRA goes in and does an audit, they should cross-reference at some point with the opposite department or the opposite province, to see if they match within a tolerance of whatever.

Fisheries committee  There is concern. Allegations have surfaced from time to time over the last two or three years, so yes, I would confirm that those allegations are there.

Fisheries committee  I'd have to say yes.

Fisheries committee  There is not, that I'm aware of.

Fisheries committee  I can say that the relationship regionally among DFO and the provincial departments of fisheries is a good balance. They do talk a lot, and there is a lot of conversation and education back and forth on what's going on. I will say that there sometimes seems to be a disconnect between the regional office of DFO and the headquarters bunch on what's happening on the ground area and what's needed on the ground area or in the fishery itself.