The state of Canada’s fisheries continues to worsen and swift action must be taken by federal officials in order to grow and sustain the country’s “blue economy.”
That’s the conclusion of Oceana’s 2020 Fishery Audit released today.
Despite new investments in science and management, Oceana says only one-quarter of the country’s fish populations can confidently be considered to be healthy.
Big drops have been seen in shrimp and crab populations, and there are declines in capelin, herring, mackerel, cod, and tuna.
The report says a healthy “blue economy” starts with healthy numbers of wild fish but it warns, DFO has failed to follow through on many federal commitments. The executive director for Oceana Canada, Josh Laughren, says at the current rate, it will take 37 years before this country has developed plans for rebuilding critically depleted fish populations.
The report says provisions outlined in the new Fisheries Act must be brought into force, including identifying major stocks and setting targets and timelines for rebuilding. That means implementing the Fishery Monitoring Policy introduced in November of last year and making “science-based quota decisions that reflect accurate catch numbers from all sources including recreational fisheries and bycatch.
The report concludes that failure to act now means losing out on the “massive long-term potential” of wild fish to support the planet and the future of coastal communities.