Fisheries committee  You'll recall some announcements that were made as long ago as 2007 regarding moving ahead with ocean to plate and trying to look at how to build value and enterprises in Atlantic Canada. At that time, there was a change in policy and a change in the vessel replacement rules for the larger enterprises—the 65-footers—where we said that buddying up was going to stop.

Fisheries committee  It's been a recurring problem. There are problems and difficulties between scientists and the Inuit. We have tried to bring together working groups to address these problems. Of course, it is difficult for us to travel to the far north. There have been meetings with the Inuit and we have tried to agree on the best way to determine the beluga population.

Fisheries committee  There have been major changes in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, NAFO. We found a way to improve conservation and regulatory measures in NAFO zones. Unfortunately, after a few years, we came up against some problems, but having met with NAFO, we found another way to solve them.

Fisheries committee  Yes, it has decreased a lot. Because of other programs, such as the meetings Ms. Ridgeway has attended, we have found a way to close ports to trawlers that fish illegally and to put a stop to all assistance to fishing of that kind. So, at present, there are not many problems in the Northwest Atlantic.

Fisheries committee  I think you're perhaps better situated to answer that.

Fisheries committee  A very small amount right now. I'd have to get back to you with a percentage on that.

Fisheries committee  This move afoot is part of the work that Ms. Ridgeway was doing to lay the groundwork. We now are looking at covering virtually the entire northern hemisphere, at least, with RFMOs that will deal with this. So in the North Atlantic, we have NAFO in the west and NEAF, the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Organization, in the east.

Fisheries committee  It's pretty clear that the formula can be rather simple. The price per pound times the catch gives you your gross income versus your costs. If you have an LFA such as LFA 25, where you have fairly high landings but you're sharing it among a lot of people, your individual catch will be low enough that your costs relevant to that will be high.

Fisheries committee  I wouldn't touch that with a—

Fisheries committee  The quota system was something that was suggested in the FRCC as a way to stop the investment in the competitive nature of the lobster fishery. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested by fishermen to increase capacity. As long as that's the model, it means that there's more pressure put on the stock.

Fisheries committee  I think your comments are fair. At the best of times, there are a lot of other bankers who are willing to provide the loans and the working capital needed by the industry. Some of those were pretty well known in terms of Glitnir, Landsbank, and others. Obviously, they are no longer in a position to do that.

Fisheries committee  Well, clearly, some of the broader issues that were related to the budget in terms of access to capital, etc., are going to be available for people in this industry in terms of the buyers and the processors, etc. They can make representations to and proposals on how to get access to that.

Fisheries committee  It was seven years as of 2007, so it would be 2014.

Fisheries committee  We do have a process for working with the provinces on the site selection. That site selection is based on ecological studies that examine the footprint. So it is not just the physical presence of a farm. You have to look at the physical changes that the farm could cause in the local ecosystem.

Fisheries committee  It's about 45,000 tonnes in total. Canada is a significant supplier of clawed lobster in the world markets. LFA 34 alone produces about 20% of the world's clawed lobster supply, and Canada about 40%.