Fishing Chapter 8

Introduction Since 1497, when John Cabot ‘discovered’ Newfoundland, Canada has been known as a rich fishing country. Canada has the longest coastline in the world, so it’s no wonder the country is a world leader in fish exports. In spite of this, Canadians eat an average of only 6.8kg of fish per year, only half as much as Sweden, Japan, Norway and Britain.

The Atlantic Fishery Why is (was) the east coast of Canada such a rich area for fish? The continental shelf extends far from shore and is only 200m deep. Some areas called banks are less than 150m deep Fish gather in large numbers to spawn here because the shallow water is rich in phytoplankton, which needs sunlight to grow Ocean currents meet here and fresh water from the St Lawrence River stir up the water, making nutrients available to the phytoplankton

The inshore fishery Inshore fishery: occurs close to shore in small boats ~80% of all fishing and 95% of all boats in Atlantic Canada are inshore Boats are 5-20m long, cost $200 000 or less (new) and have a small crew Fish include lobster, shrimp, oysters, herring, mackerel, haddock and pollock Incomes are low and irregular, so fishers have to supplement their incomes with other seasonal work and EI

The offshore fishery At its peak, offshore fishing involved only 15% of fishers but accounted for 90% of the total Atlantic catch Boats are 20-50m long, have larger crews, cost millions, and utilize the latest technology They use huge nets that drag the ocean floor (see p.138) Boats are owned by large companies, have their own processing equipment and stay at sea for weeks

Section Questions #7b,c page 135 #14, page 137 Read Case Study: the Scotia Eagle (page 138), answer #16&17

Processing Atlantic Fish (p.139) Vertically-Integrated Company: one that controls all aspects of the fishing process. Answer question #18, p.140 National Sea Products Fish Plant, Lunenburg

National Sea Products Stages of Operation Ships move fish overseas Boats are off-loaded Fish are inspected, sorted & refrigerated Fish are processed Trucks move fish to markets in North America

The Collapse of the Cod Fishery (p.140) Read the section (aloud)Answer questions 20, 21,22, p.142

The Pacific Fishery Salmon is the most important fish in the Pacific coast fishery. It accounts for 20-35% of its total catch and 40-60% of the total value. Salmon species include chum, coho, pink, spring and sockeye. Salmon is a unique fish; it spends the beginning and end of its life in freshwater rivers and the remainder in saltwater oceans.

Salmon Life Cycle

Salmon Habitat Under Attack Logging: Erodes river banks, causing silt to cover the gravel stream beds where salmon lay eggs…destroying them

Salmon Habitat Under Attack Draining Estuary Wetlands: Draining wetlands for development reduces the flow of nutrients and food for salmon.

Salmon Habitat Under Attack Pollution: Herbicides & pesticides from agriculture, sewage, organic waste and pulp & paper waste poison fish or reduce O2 levels, which will eventually kill fish.

Salmon Habitat Under Attack Dams block salmon from migrating, resulting in lower salmon numbers. Kootenay River, BC

Salmon Habitat Under Attack River Diversions Rivers are diverted for agricultural irrigation, hydroelectric power projects and other industries. Low water levels and increased water temperature kills salmon. River-diversion pipe at Marion Creek Power Project, BC

Crisis in the Salmon Fishery (p.150) In the 1990s, Scientists had been warning that salmon stocks could disappear. By 1996, catches were at an all-time low. Why? New fishing technology Use of drift nets by Asian fleets Poor resource management; there were no US/Canada quotas enforced The ocean temperature rose Sports and native fishers increased catches Catch Trends and Status of North Pacific Salmon

Crisis in the Salmon Fishery What was the response? The commercial salmon fleet was reduced by almost 50%; boats were put in dry dock for years Many salmon licenses were retired or bought back The Fraser River (main salmon waterway) fishery was shut down, as were others

The Freshwater Fishery Canada has an abundance of freshwater lakes, and therefore a major freshwater fishery. The biggest fishery is in the Great Lakes region, but other major fisheries operate on Lake Winnipeg & Great Slave Lake.

The Freshwater Fishery It amounts to 3% (2008) of the total fishing volume and value in Canada. Ontario and Manitoba land 88% (2008) of freshwater fish. Key species are yellow pickerel, whitefish, trout, bass and perch.

The Freshwater Fishery Recreational Fishing Outnumber commercial fishers in most of Canada. Sport fishing is important activity in many communities; people come from all over the world to fish in Canada (and spend their money…).