A Fishery for Our Grandchildren John Kearney John F. Kearney & Associates January 2007

Analysis of Current Management ► The fishery of the past 30 years has been based on killing fish: measured by rates of exploitation. ► Conservation has equaled the maintenance of an exploitation rate (F 0.1 ) that leaves enough mature fish for the stock to reproduce itself. ► Fish is viewed primarily as a commodity for trade on local, national, and international markets. ► Biodiversity, habitat, ecological interactions, aesthetic, social, and cultural values are considered as largely irrelevant to fisheries management. ► The primary goal of fisheries management is to promote the financial viability of fishing firms through privatization.

Assumptions ► The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will not deviate from its current management approach in the foreseeable future. ► If anything, this approach will be intensified, with increasing privatization and some reform towards a more ecological approach. ► Fishing will become even more corporate with the disappearance of family-based fishing enterprises. ► Fishermen’s organizations will increasingly represent an ever smaller base of the remaining fishermen with diminishing concern for coastal communities and the larger public interest.

Most Likely Scenario ► Fisheries will continue to collapse in Atlantic Canada and globally. ► Collapsed fish stocks will be viewed as normal and conservation will equal maintaining a remnant stock to support a small corporate elite. ► Fish will be an increasingly expensive commodity in much the same manner as any “non-renewable” resource. ► Within 50 years, fishing will be virtually non- existent in Atlantic Canada as increasing ecological degradation leads to the commercial extinction of remnant stocks.

What is to be Done? A Fishery for our Grandchildren ► Maintain a remnant population of community and family based fishing knowledge, skills, values, and activity. ► Develop a parallel fisheries system based on non-commoditized local food production and local food systems. ► Move from an emphasis on conservation to restoration. ► Prepare for the community take-over of the fishery in 2050.

Practical Steps Now ► Establish broad-based Community Fisheries Restoration Councils. ► Establish linkages with local, organic, and fair trade food movements and systems in agriculture. ► Develop support mechanisms for the maintenance of the remnant population of family and community-based fishers. ► Where possible, develop a one-licence multi- species restorative and ecological fishery. ► Focus equally on ecological and fish stock restoration ► Prepare a management plan for the Year 2050.