1. A Natural Renewable Resource
Fishing in Canada
A Natural Renewable Resource

2. Back to the Settlers Started in the 1500’s
Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal
Harvest fishing grounds off Newfoundland
Fishing stations
Permanent Villages
Dried, salted shipped
Europe, United States & West Indies

3. Plentiful Fish Fishery Number of Fishers Tonnes of Fish
Percentage of Total Catch
Value of Catch
($millions)
Total Exports
East Coast
44 897 80
1786
3453
West Coast
49 906 18
330
996
Freshwater
6900
19 981 2 28
148
Canada
(Total)
99 703
100
2114
4687

4. What part? Category Description Examples Groundfish
Fish that feed and are caught near the ocean floor
Cod, Pollock, Haddock, Halibut, redfish
Pelagic fish
Fish that feed and are caught near the surface
Salmon, Herring, Mackerel, Tuna, Caplin
Shellfish
Molluscs and crustaceans
Shrimp, lobster, oysters, scallops, mussels

5. Crisis in the East Coast Fishery
People in the East Coast Fishery relying on groundfish catching fewer and smaller fish
Specifically Cod
1991
25% decline from 1990
1992
Over 50% decline from 1990
Government bans fishing of cod

7. What Happened? Sustained yield management Overfishing
Sustaining renewable resources
Number caught each year does not exceed the amount of fish reaching maturity in that year
Overfishing
More fish caught than fish reaching maturity
Miscalculation
SYM not working

8. What Happened? Improved Fishing Technology
WWII
Larger, more powerful engine-driven trawlers
Sonar & satellite navigation systems
Uncontrolled Foreign Fishing
Countries such as Russia and Japan sending fleets that exceeded the SYM numbers
United Nations
Extended national fishing limits and controls to protect SYM numbers
Forces other countries to follow fishing restrictions

9. What Happened? Catching unwanted fish Changes in Natural Conditions
Already dead
Not reported as caught
Changes in Natural Conditions
Drop in water temperatures
Salinity levels changed
Possible change in migratory routes
Seals
Decrease in sealing population therefore increase in seal population
Seals eating fish

10. Collapse of the West Coast Fishery
1994
1 million decrease in salmon
From spawning grounds on upper Fraser River in BC
Lack of data on numbers of salmon to be fished/year

12. What Happened? Overfishing 1990’s
Canadian & American fishing boats catching over tonnes of fish/year between California & Alaska
Too few adult salmon reached spawning rivers
Was over 100 major fishing plants in BC, now fewer than 10

13. What Happened? Changes in Environment Lack of Salmon Treaty
Increase in ocean temperatures
Salmon prefer water below 7˚C
Warming water forcing salmon north
Preference of cooler water and warming ocean waters could force salmon to northern Alaska
Fewer salmon in rivers of BC
Lack of Salmon Treaty
Dispute between Canada & U.S. Regarding the conservation of salmon on west coast

14. Fishing Industry TODAY
Sport Fishing
4 million people a year
Fishing Equipment
Boats, accommodation, meals, guides and licenses
$6.7 billion

16. WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?