1. Fishing
Chapter 8

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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 $ 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. Salmon Life Cycle

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

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

14. 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.

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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…).