FOPO Committee Report

RECOMMENDATION 1:

That the Government of Canada explore in cooperation with the lobster industry all the options to provide the industry bridge financing or loan guarantees that they need to get through the current global economic and financial crisis.

RECOMMENDATION 2:

That the Government of Canada encourage Export Development Canada to provide insurance on receivables to processors that export lobster products abroad.

RECOMMENDATION 3:

That Export Development Canada provide a report to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on its fishing industry portfolio.

RECOMMENDATION 4:

That the Government of Canada develop initiatives to increase access to credit for fishermen and fishing enterprises, as well as encourage private lenders to ease credit restrictions on the fishing sector.

RECOMMENDATION 5:

That the Government of Canada increase the visibility of existing specific federal financing programs for which fishermen are eligible, and that Fisheries and Oceans Canada play a coordinating role in that respect.

RECOMMENDATION 6:

That the Government of Canada in partnership with the lobster industry explore the idea of some form of income support for lobster fishermen to address immediate concerns.

RECOMMENDATION 7:

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada provide assistance to the lobster fishermen to reduce their costs. The review of the fishery licence fee structure should be expedited.

RECOMMENDATION 8:

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with all provincial governments and industry representatives encourage the creation of an Atlantic-wide multi-stakeholder marketing research and advertising council to promote Canadian lobster domestically and abroad.

RECOMMENDATION 9:

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada in partnership with the lobster industry explore the idea of a Canadian certification system for fishery products that would comply with the internationally established management guidelines on responsible fisheries.

RECOMMENDATION 10:

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada support the efforts of the lobster industry to obtain and maintain the international certification of their fishery for sustainable management.

RECOMMENDATION 11:

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the governments of the Atlantic Provinces and Québec, support an industry-led rationalization plan for the Canadian lobster fishery (publicly-funded where appropriate) that must take into account regional needs and requirements.