Environmental Sustainability and Fishing Opportunities Seeking Balance in a Changing World

Introduction How the World is Changing How, working together, Governments, First Nations, Industry and Stakeholders, can: Maintain a balance between the opportunity to fish and Meet, and be seen to meet, our ecological sustainability objectives and obligations Economic sustainability, in the context of commercial fisheries must also be provided for in this context

The Changing World Three themes Two were intended to be “evolutionary” in nature –changes in fishery management approaches through domestic policy and international and legal changes –External, including the market, factors influencing future fisheries management approaches One, SARA, has more immediate impacts

Evolutionary Change Policy and international change includes Government of Canada’s policy to adopt the Precautionary Approach (PA) The Oceans Act In response, we have initiated work on WSP and application of the PA to domestic fisheries through Objectives Based Fisheries Management including discussions with the fishing industry on ecosystem considerations. International developments lead by our ratification of UNFA NAFO, NASCO, ICES Discussions with stakeholders were underway with a view to reaching a consensus on these changes and implementing them over time

External Drivers of Change An alphabet soup that includes –MSC –Global NGOs, WWF, TRAFFIC-CITES –Groups pushing for boycotts of fish due to sustainability concerns Time lines are short 3-5 years at the outside NGOs do not see UNCLOS as effective and are starting to look at alternatives to diplomatic solutions Seamount ecosystem degradation, bio-diversity loss, and perceived unsustainable fisheries are all driving their sense of urgency and the search by NGOs for more direct action Governments, in partnership with those fishing, will increasingly be placed in a position where fisheries will need to be seen to be sustainable

SARA Links to –Bio-diversity –Ecosystem considerations –Proof of sustainability through required reports –PA in the sense that if we fail at PA, SARA is the safety net for the species SARA obligates Ministers and government to act, unlike the Fisheries Act it is not permissive Time lines processes, standards are tight and defined within the act Roles of COSEWIC, Governments, First Nations resource users and stakeholders needs to be more fully defined

Integrated Action is Needed to Respond Stop the problem from growing –Implement the PA, WSP and OBFM including ecosystem considerations Work together on response to current COSEWIC assessments Work with all stakeholders to bring more order to the process, COSEWIC related regulations, processes to respond to assessments, consultation, and clarification of listing and recovery plan processes

Next Steps Response to current assessments Listing decisions, dialogue, Government, First Nation and stakeholder roles Rebuilding plan processes Improving the process