1. West Coast/ Pacific Fisheries
Most important fish on the West Coast = Salmon
These Salmon
hatch in freshwater streams,
swim to Pacific Ocean for adult lives,
enter coastal water for summer and fall (where fisherman await)
if escaping nets swim back to the freshwater streams,lay their eggs (spawning)
then die

2. Harvesting Salmon Gill nets – a curtain line net catches fish by gills
Purse seins – a net designed to encircle and trap a school of fish
Troll line – steel line over a boat with lures to hook salmon

3. Partial Collapse (warned by East Coast)
1994 – 1 million less salmon
arrived at spawning ground in BC
Why?
Overfishing
Changes in Environment – warmer waters = relocate
Lack of Salmon Fishing Treaty – long dispute between Canada and US on where and how much salmon can be caught (Can. Says catch less to preserve, AM. Says there’s no problem) = AM’s fishing, Can’s not

4. Fewer Fish, Higher Demand
First Nations – right to fish for own food
Sport fishing – want bigger share
Commercial fishing – want bigger share
Government needs to ensure adequate breeding stock = reduced commercial salmon fleets
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