QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Future of the Fishing Industry
June 4, 2024
Welcome, minister. I think my question is a good last question for you.
Like most other industries, the fishing industry went through a very difficult period during the COVID-19 pandemic. How do you see the sector today and over the next five years? What are the specific indicators?
Fishers continued working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fishing continued and the processing industry also kept working. Fishers were getting excellent prices for their catches at the time.
The really important thing for me to work on in the coming years is supporting the next generation of fishers. How can we help the next generation? With climate change, since some species are disappearing and others are becoming invasive, how can we ensure that these species become part of the economy of the entire Gulf of St. Lawrence region?
You mentioned a few challenges in the coming years. Are there other challenges you’re working on with your department?
We’re currently working on promoting artificial intelligence with the Mer numérique AI tool and electronic logs. Some provinces are still using paper logs.
As I was saying earlier, I opened the redfish fishery, but not for bycatch, even though I know full well that bycatch is more important for the fishers. They’ll need to make sure they’re fishing the right species and not using the redfish fishery to fish other species that might be threatened.
Honourable senators, the time for Question Period has expired.
I am sure you will join me in thanking Minister Lebouthillier for being with us today.
We will now resume the proceedings that were interrupted at the start of Question Period.
