Geography of Canada Fishing

1.Types and Locations of Fish in Canada 2.Methods of Fishing in Canada 3.The Collapse of Canada’s Fisheries

Renewable Resources Resources that replaces itself unless poorly managed Commercial fishing – east coast, west coast, Inland Three types of fish: –Groundfish (bottom feeders – cod, sole) –Pelagic fish (open-water feeders –salmon, tuna) –Shellfish (oysters, shrimp)

The East Coast Fishery Crisis Used to be one of the world’s great fishing grounds. Wide continental shelf and shallow banks and plankton 1980’s – fish populations went down rapidly mostly from over-fishing Number of fish being harvested outnumbered those reaching maturity in a year (sustained yield management)

Collapse Factors Overfishing Improved Fishing Technology – help locate school of fish faster, new netting to catch more fish Uncontrolled Foreign Fishing Destructive Fishing Practices – trawling = attempt to catch one kind of fish while other types were thrown away Changes in Natural Conditions – water temp has dropped and salinity has fluctuated, more predators (seals)

The Partial Collapse of the West Coast Fishery Salmon (coho, chum, pink, spring, sockeye), herring, halibut, cod, crab, tuna, shrimp, oysters. Warned by the outcome of the East Coast fishery experience –Overfishing –Changes in the Environment – climate change/warmer water –Lack of Salmon Fishing Treaty – Canada vs USA

Challenges to the West Coast Fishery First nations – demand for salmon growing (food and ceremonial purposes) Sport Fishing – bigger economic benefit – “a salmon caught by a recreational angler yields a much greater economic benefit than a salmon caught by a commercial fishing boat.” Commercial Fishing – stocks are declining One Solution – Aquaculture!

Freshwater Fishery Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Great Slave Lake… Whitefish, perch, pickerel, trout Sport fishing more important than commercial fishing

Types and Locations of Fish CategoryDescriptionExamples 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 Mollusks and crustaceans. Shrimp, lobster, oyster, scallop, mussels

COD HALIBUT SCALLOP SALMON

Canada’s East Coast Fishery & PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND U.S.A.

Warm Alaska Current Cold California Current Canada’s West Coast Fishery U.S.A.

Methods of Fishing in Canada In ShoreOff Shore  small boats with limited gear, self- employed  85% of fishers but just 10% of fish  day trips only, no trips during bad weather  low income  lobster, shrimp, clam, cod, and haddock  large ships with variety of gear, company owned  15% of fishers but 90% of fish  out for two weeks or more at a time, in any weather  reasonable income  harvest cod, sole, halibut, redfish, flounder

INSHORE OFFSHORE

Methods of Fishing in Canada Type of NetDescriptionDiagram Purse Seiningcircling a school of fish with a net Gill Nettingpassing fish get caught in net Otter Trawlingbag-shaped net dragged along the ocean floor

Commercial Offshore Fishing

Collapse of Canada’s Fisheries

The End