FOPO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met at 3:33 p.m. this day, in Room C-160, 1 Wellington Street, the Chair, Rodney Weston, presiding.

Jeffrey Hutchings made a statement and, with Ian Fleming, answered questions.

At 3:58 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), the sitting was suspended.

At 4:56 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Fin Donnelly moved, — That the Committee meeting be extended for an hour, till 6:30 p.m.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

The Committee resumed consideration of its study of closed containment salmon aquaculture.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Fin Donnelly moved, — That, because fleet separation and owner operator policy is critical to coastal communities and protecting independent fishers in the inshore fishery, the Committee reaffirms its support for fleet separation and owner operator vessels in the inshore fishery and opposes any move to eliminate this policy.

It was agreed, — That the debate on the motion be adjourned.

Lawrence MacAulay moved, — That, because fleet separation and owner-operator policies form the backbone of the inshore and midshore fisheries on the east coast of Canada and that the removal of said policies would do irreparable damage to the fisheries along with hundreds of coastal communities, the Committee immediately undertake a study, including travelling to hold hearings with affected stakeholders across Atlantic Canada, on what the removal of the policies would mean in economic, social, and cultural terms, along with a comparative analysis of other jurisdictions where similar policies are not in place or have been removed such as British Columbia, New Zealand, and Norway.

It was agreed, — That the debate on the motion be adjourned.

At 5:34 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.