Fishing: An Industry at the Crossroads
An Introduction
Ocean Fishing is Canada’s oldest industry. Beginning in the early 1500s, ships from Great
Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal came to Canada every summer to harvest the rich
fishing grounds off Newfoundland. At first, the Europeans set up summer fishing stations.
Eventually, they established permanent fishing villages. The fish were dried or salted, and
then sent to Europe, the United States, and the West Indies. Fishing provided the
economic base for European settlement in much of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince
Edward Island, parts of New Brunswick, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Commercial fishing today makes up only about 0.15% of the total value of Canada’s
economy. This might make it seem relatively unimportant, but in parts of Atlantic Canada,
the Pacific Coast, and some inland areas, it is the foundation of the economy. As well,
commercial fishing is the basis for a traditional way of life that has a special place in
Canada’s cultural heritage.
Canadian commercial fishing occurs in three areas: the East Coast, the West Coast, and
the freshwater inland lakes. In the mid-1990s, about 70,000 Canadians had commercialfishing licences, and another 20,000 were employed in fish processing. Production from
the East Coast is higher than that from the West Coast, and freshwater production is
smaller than both. The different kinds of ocean fish caught by Canadian fishers are
categorized as: groundfish (bottom feeders), pelagic fish (open water feeders), and shellfish.
Category
Description
Examples
Groundfish
Fish that feed and are caught
near the ocean floor
cod, pollock, haddock,
halibut, redfish, etc…
Pelagic Fish
Fish that feed and are caught
near the surface
salmon, herring, mackerel,
tuna, caplin, etc…
Shellfish
Molluscs and crustaceans
shrimp, lobster, oyster,
scallop, mussels, etc…
Canada is not one of the top ten fishing nations in the world. It is, however, one of the
world’s leading exporters of fish, largely because Canadians do not eat much fish. As a
result, export markets are very important to the Canadian fishing industry. More than 50%
of the Canadian catch is exported. To compete more effectively in these markets, Canada
developed a grading system that ensures that a consistently high quality of fish is exported.
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Canada’s fish exports are greater than our imports, which helps our balance of trade. A
balance of trade is the difference between value of exports and value of imports. If exports
exceed imports, there is a trade surplus. If imports exceed exports, there is a trade deficit.
For example, in 1997, exports of fish were valued at $3 billion while imports of fish were
valued at about $1.6 billion. The most important markets for our fish are the United
States, Western Europe, and the countries of the Pacific Rim, particularly Japan.
In Canada, consumers need to become more aware of the health benefits of eating fish.
Canadians generally do not eat as much seafood as people in other countries. In one year,
the average Canadian eats 34kg of beef, 25 kg of pork, 31 kg of poultry, and only 10 kg of
fresh fish and shellfish. Better marketing and advertising would encourage this, since most
Canadians do not know what varieties of fish are available or how to cook them properly.
The East Coast Fishery
Until recently, the ocean waters off the East Coast of Canada were one of the world’s great
fishing grounds. A number of favourable conditions combined to produce waters extremely
suitable to fish. Atlantic Canada has a particularly wide continental shelf (a shelf gently
sloping out to cover a large portion of the continent, that extends below the surface of the
ocean) that is less than 200 m in depth. On this shelf are even shallower areas called
fishing banks (the shallow areas provide a feeding and spawning ground for fish) which are
less than 150 m deep. Here, sunlight penetrates to the bottom causing a lush growth of
plankton, which attracts large numbers of fish. Plankton is the name given to microscopic
plants and animals eaten by small fish and shellfish. The small fish and shellfish are, in
turn, eaten by larger fish.
The largest and best-known fishing region on the East Coast is the Grand Banks, with an
area of 282,500 km2. By comparison, the island of Newfoundland is 111,400 km2.
The meeting of the cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream on the Grand Banks
churns up nutrients that are necessary for the growth of plankton.
The waters off the East Coast have been among the world’s greatest fishing grounds for
centuries. They are home to two distinct types of fisheries: the inshore fishery and the
offshore fishery. The inshore fishery consists of commercial fishing that takes place with a
few kilometres of the shoreline. Small fishing boats go out to sea and return to shore each
day. The offshore fishery is an ocean fishery done from boats longer than 25 m. The boats
stay at sea several days before returning to shore with their catch.
Crisis in the East Coast Fishery
In the 1980s, people in the East Coast fishery who relied on groundfish noticed they were
catching fewer and smaller fish. In particular, the northern cod off Newfoundland and
southern Labrador seemed to be disappearing. While the catch of cod and other
groundfish had declined before, the collapse that occurred in 1991 was unexpected. The
Canadian government responded in 1992 by halting all fishing for northern cod, and by
making major cuts in the catches for other groundfish species.
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Feature
Inshore Fishery
Offshore Fishery
Location
Within 16 to 25 km of shore
To edges of continental shelf, up
to 370 km from shore
Percentage of the fishing
industry labour force
85%
15%
Percentage of total catch
10%
90%
Type of boat and
equipment
Smaller boats (up to 20m in length),
usually with fixed gear (fish weirs,
lobster traps, etc…)
Large boats (up to 50 m in
length), usually with mobile fish
nets; foreign trawlers can be
larger still
Ownership of boats and
equipment
Individuals and families
Large companies
Types of Employment
Self-employment
Unionized employees of fishing
companies
Crew size
1 to 6
12 to 16
Fishing season
Mainly warmer months
All year long in all types of
weather
Fishing procedures
Fishing boats travel to coastal fishing
areas each morning
Trawlers to the fishing grounds
for up to two weeks at a time
Processing
Fish are processed onshore, usually
in small to medium-size plants
Fish may be partially processed
on board before being taken to
large processing plants
Lifestyle
People often live in small coastal
communities; incomes earned are
often low and unstable; widespread
dependence on government support
People live in larger coastal
communities; incomes are
higher and more stable
Why the East Coast Fishery Collapsed
Many theories have been suggested to explain the serious decline in the numbers of
groundfish, but no single cause is responsible. To understand what happened, keep in
mind that fish are a renewable resource, and that renewable resources must be managed
properly. Fish can be harvested forever if the number caught each year does not exceed the
number reaching maturity in that year. This is a conservation technique called sustained
yield management (use of a renewable resource at a rate that allows the resource to
renew itself). The number of adult fish that are capable of breeding is called the breeding
stock. These fish must be protected if the total population of fish is to be maintained. The
attempt to manage the fishery to maintain a sufficient number of breeding fish in eastern
Canada had obviously failed. Scientists, governments, and especially those who work in the
industry, are trying to discover what went wrong so that the fishery can be managed better
in the future.
People have suggested five major conditions responsible for the collapse of the fishery.
They are:

Overfishing – The catch allowed by the federal government each year appears to
have been too high. Their scientists may have overestimated the number of fish
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becoming adults each year. If this, in fact, did happen, then more fish were caught
than reached maturity and sustained yield management was not working.

Improved Fishing Technology – After World War II, larger, more powerful,
engine-driven trawlers were developed. Technological developments, such as sonar
and satellite navigation systems, helped fishers to locate schools of fish faster and
more accurately. Over the years, fewer and fewer fish escaped the fishing nets.
Ironically the “advances” in technology made overfishing possible.

Uncontrolled Foreign Fishing – By the late 1960s, the foreign fishing fleets of
countries such as Russia and Japan caught far more fish than sustained yield
methods would have allowed. Countries with ocean coastlines were urging the
United Nations to allow them to extend national fishing limits over the continental
shelf. In this way, countries such as Canada could protect their fish stocks.

Destructive Fishing Practices – When trawlers were trying to catch one kind of
fish, for example, cod, many other types of fish may have become caught in the
nets. These unwanted fish, which were already dead, were usually thrown away.
Only the remaining fish were reported to the authorities as having been caught.

Changes in Natural Conditions – Some people have blamed changes in
environmental conditions for the decline in the fish stock. Two specific changes
have been identified. First, water temperatures have dropped and ocean salinity
levels have changed since the mid-180s. The fish may have changed heir migratory
routes to avoid areas where these changes have occurred. Second, some people have
suggested that the decline of the sealing industry in the late 1970s caused an
increase in the seal population. This, in turn, reduced groundfish populations
because the seals ate large quantities of a small fish called caplin, which is a major
food source for cod. Seals may also be eating large amounts of cod.
The West Coast Fishery
The most important catch on the West Coast is salmon. There are five kinds of salmon:
coho, chum, pink, spring (Chinook), and, the most valuable of all, sockeye. The Pacific
harvest also includes herring, halibut, cod, crab, tuna, shrimp, and oysters.
Although salmon are found on both coasts, the West Coast catch has traditionally been
over 400 times larger than the East Coast catch. Pacific salmon hatch in freshwater streams
and swim to the Pacific Ocean where they spend their adult lives. Mature Pacific salmon
leave the open sea and enter coastal waters during the summer and fall. It is here that
British Columbia’s large modern fishing fleet has traditionally awaited them. The salmon
that escape the nets head for the same freshwater streams where they were hatched. They
lay their eggs in the gravel beds of these streams that tumble out of the mountains along
the coast. After spawning, both males and females die.
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The Collapse of the West Coast Fishery
The failure of the fish-management system in the Atlantic fishery caused scientists and
politicians to reevaluate the handling of the West Coast fishery. Their concern was brought
sharply into focus in 1994 when one million fewer salmon than estimated arrived at
spawning grounds on the upper Fraser River in British Columbia. Many people were
worried because any successful fish-management plan must be based on accurate estimates
of the number of fish. They were concerned that Canada’s Department of Fisheries and
Oceans did not have enough data on the number of salmon to make informed decisions
about how many could be caught each year. There are several possible reasons for the
collapse of the West Coast salmon fishery.

Overfishing – During the 1990s, Canadian and American salmon fishing boats
were catching over 800,000 tonnes of fish per year between California and Alaska.
The salmon stocks could not survive this massive yearly catch, which meant that
too few adult fish reached the spawning rivers. Where there were once over 1000
major fish processing plants in British Columbia, there were fewer than 10 by
1999.

Changes in the Environment – What happens in the oceans is still a mystery.
Global warming appears to be increasing the temperature of the Pacific Ocean.
This could threaten the salmon’s habitat. Salmon prefer water that is below 7°C.
This temperature establishes the southern limit of the salmon’s range. Northern
California has already lost most of its salmon runs because of warmer water.
If the Pacific Ocean slowly warms, the southern limit of the salmon’s range will
continue to move northward. This would force the salmon to move further north
toward the Bering Sea, west of Alaska, where the water is cooler. Eventually, the
salmon may be forced to remain in the cooler more northerly waters of the Pacific
Ocean and to spawn in the rivers of Alaska rather than in the more southerly rivers
of British Columbia.

Lack of a Salmon Fishing Treaty – A long-standing dispute between Canada and
the United States concerning where salmon may be caught and how much may be
taken by each country exists. Canadian officials claim that fewer salmon,
particularly coho, should be caught in order to preserve the stock. American
officials in Alaska, on the other hand, claim that there is enough salmon and
restrictions are not needed. As long as both countries cannot come to an agreement
on a Pacific salmon treaty in which fishing and conservation are properly balanced,
this precious resource may disappear.
Challenges to the West Coast Fishery
As the supply of salmon decreases, there is the difficulty of balancing a limited supply of
fish with a growing demand. There are three competing demands for salmon in British
Columbia: commercial fishing, sport fishing, and fishing by First Nations communities. In
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the 1980s and early 1990s, the commercial fleet caught 94% of the salmon while each of
the other groups accounted for about 3%.
The demand for salmon by Aboriginal people is growing for two reasons. First, a Supreme
Court decision in 1990 guaranteed the right of the First Nations to fish for their own food
as well as for social and ceremonial purposes. The Court established that this use takes
precedence over all other considerations except conservation. Second, the right to fish
commercially has been a focus of many First Nations land claims in British Columbia.
The sport-fishing industry also wants a bigger share of the available salmon. The reasoning
here is economic: a salmon caught by a recreational angler yields a much greater economic
benefit than a salmon caught by a commercial-fishing boat.
If the First Nations and the sport-fishing industry are to gain greater shares of the fish, and
the government is to ensure an adequate breeding stock, commercial fishers will have to
reduce their catch. The federal government is assisting with this cutback by slowly
purchasing commercial-fishing licences and fishing boats so that the number of commercial
fishers is reduced.
An additional challenge facing the West Coast fishery is aquaculture. Fish farms, which
raise salmon in pens, are now producing more salmon than are caught in the wild. The
value of the salmon caught by the commercial fishery is about $96 million, and the value of
the salmon raised on fish farms is about $175 million. In general, farm-raised salmon can
be sold more cheaply than wild salmon. This competition has made it very difficult for
many people who fish for wild salmon to make enough money to stay in business.
The Freshwater Fishery
Canada’s freshwater (inland) fisheries are located in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg,
Greta Slave Lake, and 600 or so smaller lakes. The Great Lakes have the most important
freshwater fishery, with Lake Erie as the largest producer. The major species sent to market
from these lakes are whitefish, perch, pickerel, and trout.
The freshwater fisheries are much less important to the Canadian economy than those of
the East or West Coast. Less than 2% of the total value of the Canadian fishery in 1996
came from inland waters. Only about 7000 people have jobs in the freshwater fishery. In
spite of these small numbers, the freshwater fishery is very important to the areas where it
takes place. This is especially true in northern Canada, where up to 90% of those involved
in commercial fishing are Native people. For those in northern Canada, fish not only
provide a cash income where jobs are scarce, but they also make up a major (and very
nutritious) part of the diet.
Sport Fishing
For most people, going fishing is simply a pleasant way to spend a summer day. They do
not realize that sport fishing is a major industry that generates more money than all the
commercial fishing in the country! About four million people every year fish for sport in
Canadian waters. This group, which includes almost one million people from other
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countries (mainly the United Sates), spends about $7 billion on such things as boats,
fishing equipment, accommodation, meals, fishing guides, and licences. About half the
sport fishing by Canadians and two-thirds of that by visitors occurs in Ontario.
In Closing…
Canada’s fishing industry is in trouble on both its Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Our
problems are part of a global trend that began in the 1970s and involves too many fishing
boats chasing too few fish. As a result, global fish stocks are in danger. According to a study
by the World Wildlife Fund, 70 percent of the world’s 200 most valuable fish stocks are
either depleted or overfished. Some countries have tried to reduce overfishing by limiting
the size of the catch or by restricting the amount of time boats are allowed to fish.
However, there are no international laws to force countries to practice conservation
methods.
Canada’s fishing industry is at a crossroad. In Atlantic Canada, a renewable resource has
been exploited beyond its capacity. In British Columbia, the same thing may be happening,
as there are competing demands for a limited supply of fish. Changes must be made to
ensure the health of both fisheries, not only because they provide employment in regions
where jobs are scarce, but also because they support a lifestyle that is part of our Canadian
heritage.
Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences.
a) Why are fish a renewable resource? (2 points)
b) Explain the economic and social importance of the fishing industry to
Canada. (3 points)
c) Identify the three types of ocean fish that are caught within Canada. (3
points)
d) Describe, in detail, the conditions that have produced outstanding
fishing grounds on the East Coast. (2 points)
e) Fully explain the five major factors that may have led to the collapse of
the East Coast Fishery. (10 points)
f) Describe the major differences between the inshore and offshore
fishery. (4 points)
g) Inshore fishing has been called a way of life, and offshore fishing a
business. With specific references, explain what this means. (3 points)
h) Explain the conservation technique of sustained yield management as it
applies to fishing. (3 points)
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i) Describe, in detail, the factors that may have led to the collapse of the
West Coast fishery. (6 points)
j) What challenges are facing the West Coast fishery? Explain. (2 points)
k) Describe the state of Canada’s freshwater fishery. What challenges exist
for this fishery? Explain. (2 points)
l) How important is sport fishing to the Canadian economy? (2 points)
m) How do the concepts of a renewable resource and sustained yield
management relate to:
(4 points)
i.
The collapse of the ground-fish fishery in Atlantic Canada
ii.
The problem of trying to meet the demand for salmon in British Columbia
This assignment will be marked out of 46 points.
Good luck with this assignment!
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