1. East Coast Fisheries
Fish in Canada was once thought to be a renewable resource; however the fisheries collapsed in the 1990’s = renewable resources must be managed properly
Canada is not 1 of top 10 fishing nations but it is one of leading fish exporters (80% exported)

2. East Coast/ Atlantic Fisheries
Inshore Fishery: commercial fishing that takes place within a few kilometers of the shoreline. Small fishing boats go out to sea and return to shore each day
Offshore Fishery: ocean fishery using boats longer than 25m. The boats stay at sea several days before returning to shore with their catch

3. Crisis in the East Coast Fishery
1980s – East Coast fishery catching fewer and smaller fish; fishery collapsed unexpectedly in 1991
Canadian government stopped all northern cod fishing and limited other catches of ground fish
Expected fish populations to recover, but still haven’t (diagram page 283)

4. Why it Collapsed
Overfishing – more fish were caught than reached maturity
Improved Fishing Technology – easier to catch fish/overfishing easy
Uncontrolled Foreign Fishing – not controlled until 1970’s
Destructive Fishing Practices – when trawler tried to catch one kind of fish, also caught many others; unwanted fish thrown away
Changes in Natural Conditions – water temperature dropped and ocean salinity
(saltiness has changed
Decline of sealing industry = more seals
= eat more fish