Tuesday’s audit from Canada’s Environment and Sustainable Development Commissioner takes a critical look at the current management of Canadian fisheries and lack of reliable data.
Similar to Oceana Canada research, summarized in Here’s the Catch: How to Restore Abundance to Canada’s Oceans, the audit reveals that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) lacks key information to make informed management decisions, and in many cases has not implemented the tools needed to sustainably manage our fisheries. Oceana Canada also found that only 24 per cent of Canada’s fish populations can be considered healthy.
“Canada’s fisheries have the potential to be a model for how to balance economic benefits to communities with responsible environmental practices. A healthy and diverse ocean will support the Canadian economy and vibrant coastal communities,” said Josh Laughren, Executive Director, Oceana Canada. “At a time when Canadians are debating how to move the economy and environmental agenda forward, the government must start focusing on rebuilding our fisheries as renewable sources that can provide increased benefits for generations to come.”
Wild seafood requires minimal fresh water to produce, emits little carbon dioxide, does not use arable land, and is a renewable resource. In 2015, the Canadian fishing industry was responsible for $6 billion in exports and employed over 79,000 Canadians.
“We’re encouraged to see that the government has accepted all the audit’s recommendations, and in the last budget committed significant new funds to fisheries science,” said Laughren. “Oceana Canada is now calling for swift implementation of these commitments, including making information publically available, so Canadians can reap the benefits of a healthy ocean and well managed fisheries.”
To address the vulnerable state of Canada’s fisheries, Oceana Canada is hosting a symposium with leading experts to develop a vision to recover and protect our oceans. Rebuilding Abundance: Restoring Canada’s Fisheries for Long-Term Prosperity, takes place on October 26, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario, at the Westin Hotel.
Additional audit findings:
There are no comprehensive plans available for 44 of Canada’s 154 major fish stocks. Of those that do exist, many have unclear objectives to measure how well the DFO is managing the stocks and are out of date or incomplete.
For 12 of the 15 major fish stocks that are in the critical zone, DFO has no plans or timelines for developing rebuilding plans.
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