Natural Resource: Fishing

East Coast Fishery

Fisherman noticed they were catching fewer and smaller fish. 

The Canadian government responded in 1992 by halting all fishing for northern cod and by making major cuts in the catches allowed for other groundfish species.

East Coast Fishery

When the groundfish ban was imposed, expected that fish populations would recover in 5-7 years.

cod stocks have remained at or below 1992 levels.

The fishing industry has responded by diversifying its catch

Why the collapse ? no single cause responsible

fish are a renewable resource as long as managed properly

Sustainable yield management : use of a renewable resource at a rate that allows the resource to renew itself

Why the collapse?

5 major factors responsible for the collapse:

1. Overfishing

2. improved fishing technology,

3. uncontrolled foreign fishing,

4. destructive fishing practices,

5. changes in natural conditions

Five Major Factors

1. Overfishing :

catch allowed by federal gov’t each year was too high

overestimate of # fish reach maturity each year

Five Major Factors2. Improved Fishing Technology

After WWII larger, more powerful, engine-driven trawlers developed

Allowed for faster and more accurate location of fish

made overfishing easier

Five Major Factors3. Uncontrolled Foreign Fishing

Canada allowed uncontrolled fishing until the 1970s

Countries urge UN to allow extensions of their national fishing limits to protect their fish stock

1977, UN allowed Canada to extend its control to 370km

Foreign fleet working inside the limit had to follow Canadian fishing restrictions

Five Major Factors

4. Destructive Fishing Practices

Bottom Trawling :

Issue: bycatch, damage to seafloor ecosystem

Five Major Factors

5. Changes in Natural Conditions

Changes in environmental conditions blamed for decline in fish stock

water temperatures decreasing, salinity increaing

decline of seal industry in late 70s

West Coast Fishery

The most important catch on the West Coast is salmon

1994, one million fewer salmon arrived at spawning ground in BC

Several reasons for partial collapse

1. overfishing

2. changes in the environment

3. Lack of Salmon Fishing Treaty

Factors for the Collapse

1. Overfishing :

• During 90’s American and Canadian salmon-fishing boats were catching 800 000 tonnes of fish per year

• Too few adult fish reached spawning rivers

Factors for the Collapse

2. Changes in the Environment :

Global warming increase the temperature of the Pacific Ocean

7℃ (salmon prefer water below this)

Continues to warm, salmon’s range shift northward

Canada will lose its west coast salmon fishery

Factors for the Collapse

3. Lack of Salmon Fishing Treaty

Longstanding dispute between Canada and US

Where salmon can be caught and how much per Country

Challenges to West Coast Fishery

Difficulty balancing limited supply of fish with a growing demand

Three competing demands for Salmon in BC:

1. Fishing by First Nations

2. Sports fishing

3. Commercial fishing

Fishing by First Nations

two reasons for the increase demand for salmon by Aboriginal people

1. Supreme Court decision 1990

2. Right to commercially fish is focus of many First Nation land claims in BC

Sport Fishing

wanted a bigger share of the available salmon

The sport of fishing brings in revenue for the province of BC

Commercial Fishing• overfishing

• Desire for larger share of the available salmon

Aquaculture: Blessing or a Curse?

Primary reasons why aquaculture is a threat to fishery in British Columbia:

Farm raised salmon is cheaper to sell

Wild salmon is more expensive

More salmon is produced in pens than caught naturally in the wild

Pests such as sea lice proliferate in fish farms and spread out to afflict wild fish.

Sea lice are especially damaging to salmon, sometimes eating away the flesh

Viral, fungal and bacterial diseases that arise in fish farms have spread to native fish populations

Aquaculture Cntd…