West Coast and Other West Coast and Other Fisheries Fisheries

West Coast FisheryWest Coast Fishery• Salmon is most important (400 times Salmon is most important (400 times

larger than Atlantic catch)larger than Atlantic catch)

• 5 Kinds: Coho, pink, spring, chum, 5 Kinds: Coho, pink, spring, chum, and best of all, sockeye.and best of all, sockeye.

• Also harvests: herring, halibut, cod, Also harvests: herring, halibut, cod, crab, shrimp, and oysterscrab, shrimp, and oysters

Salmon on West Coast?Salmon on West Coast?

• Life Cycle:Life Cycle:• Hatch in fresh water streams and swim to Hatch in fresh water streams and swim to

Pacific to spend adult livesPacific to spend adult lives• Mature salmon return to coastal waters Mature salmon return to coastal waters

during summer and fall (this is where during summer and fall (this is where fishermen await them)fishermen await them)

• The ones that escape, head for the same The ones that escape, head for the same stream where they were hatched.stream where they were hatched.

• They lay their eggs in the gravel beds and They lay their eggs in the gravel beds and then diethen die

Collapse of West Coast Collapse of West Coast FisheryFishery

• Re-evaluation of West Coast fish Re-evaluation of West Coast fish management as a result of disaster on management as a result of disaster on East CoastEast Coast

• Concern came in 1994 when 1 million Concern came in 1994 when 1 million fewer salmon arrived to spawnfewer salmon arrived to spawn

• Many thought Dept. of Fisheries didn’t Many thought Dept. of Fisheries didn’t have enough data to make informed have enough data to make informed decision on how many fish could now be decision on how many fish could now be caught every yearcaught every year

Reasons for CollapseReasons for Collapse

1.1. Over fishingOver fishing

2.2. Changes in the EnvironmentChanges in the Environment

3.3. Lack of Salmon TreatyLack of Salmon Treaty

Over FishingOver Fishing

• 1990’s: US and Cdn boats bringing in 1990’s: US and Cdn boats bringing in over 800,000 tons/yearover 800,000 tons/year

• Salmon could not survive at this rateSalmon could not survive at this rate

• Too few adults reached spawning Too few adults reached spawning riversrivers

• Where there was once over 100 major Where there was once over 100 major fish-processing plants in BC, now fish-processing plants in BC, now there are fewer than 10there are fewer than 10

Changes in EnvironmentChanges in Environment

• Increase of temp in Pacific Ocean Increase of temp in Pacific Ocean which threatens salmon habitatwhich threatens salmon habitat

• Salmon like temp below 7Salmon like temp below 7ºCºC• California has already lost salmon to California has already lost salmon to

the North (BC/Alaska)the North (BC/Alaska)• If continues, southern limit will If continues, southern limit will

continue to move north towards continue to move north towards Alaska and Bering SeaAlaska and Bering Sea

Lack of Salmon TreatyLack of Salmon Treaty

• Dispute between Canada and USA Dispute between Canada and USA concerning concerning where salmon may be caught and how much where salmon may be caught and how much may be taken by each countrymay be taken by each country

• Canada states coho is diminishing, while US Canada states coho is diminishing, while US officials say there’s enough (restrictions not officials say there’s enough (restrictions not needed)needed)

• As long as the 2 countries can’t come to As long as the 2 countries can’t come to agreement, salmon may disappear agreement, salmon may disappear completelycompletely

Challenges to West CoastChallenges to West Coast

• 3 Competing demands for salmon in 3 Competing demands for salmon in BCBC

1.1. Commercial FishingCommercial Fishing

2.2. Sport FishingSport Fishing

3.3. Fishing by the First NationsFishing by the First Nations

Commercial FishingCommercial Fishing

• 80’s and 90’s 80’s and 90’s caught 94% of salmoncaught 94% of salmon

• Other groups caught about 3% totalOther groups caught about 3% total

Sport FishingSport Fishing

• Wants bigger share of available Wants bigger share of available salmonsalmon

• Reason is economicReason is economic: :

-a salmon caught by a -a salmon caught by a recreational recreational angler yields a angler yields a much greater economic much greater economic benefit benefit than a salmon caught by a than a salmon caught by a commercial-fishing boatcommercial-fishing boat

First Nation FishingFirst Nation Fishing

Demand is growing for 2 reasons:Demand is growing for 2 reasons:

1.1. Supreme Court decision in 1990 Supreme Court decision in 1990 guaranteed the right of the First Nations guaranteed the right of the First Nations to fish for their own to fish for their own food as well as for food as well as for social and ceremonial purposes.social and ceremonial purposes. This This takes precedence over all other takes precedence over all other considerations except conservationconsiderations except conservation

2.2. The right to fish commercially The right to fish commercially is a focus is a focus of many First Nations land claims in BCof many First Nations land claims in BC

Another Challenge…Another Challenge…

• Aquaculture: Fish farmsAquaculture: Fish farms• More salmon than caught in wildMore salmon than caught in wild• Value of salmon caught by commercial Value of salmon caught by commercial

boats in 2002 was about $57 millionboats in 2002 was about $57 million• Value of salmon raised on fish farms is Value of salmon raised on fish farms is

about $521 millionabout $521 million• Has made it tough for fishermen trying Has made it tough for fishermen trying

to earn a livingto earn a living

Fresh Water FisheryFresh Water Fishery

• Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Great Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Great Slave Lake, and 600 other small lakesSlave Lake, and 600 other small lakes

• Great Lakes is most important, and Great Lakes is most important, and Lake Erie is the largest producerLake Erie is the largest producer

• Species: pickerel, whitefish, trout, Species: pickerel, whitefish, trout, perchperch

• Less than 2% of total fish caught in Less than 2% of total fish caught in CanadaCanada

• Only about 7000 jobs Only about 7000 jobs

Sport FishingSport Fishing

• Major industry that generates more Major industry that generates more money than all commercial fishing in money than all commercial fishing in the countrythe country

• About 4 million people/year, 1 million About 4 million people/year, 1 million from other countriesfrom other countries

• Spend about $6.7 billion ( boats, guides, Spend about $6.7 billion ( boats, guides, accommodations, food, equipment, etc)accommodations, food, equipment, etc)

• 2/3’s occurs in Ontario2/3’s occurs in Ontario