Fisheries News
Asian carp in the Great Lakes: how high the risk? Thursday, 12 July 2012 17:23 |  Author: Administrator |   
A binational report released by DFO stated that Asian carp could find hospitable conditions in all five of the Great Lakes if they gain a foothold.The report is based on a 16-month assessment of risk to the lakes from the invasive carp, which have infested the Mississippi Rivers and many of its tributaries. The threat is that carp will enter Lake Michigan through a Chicago-area waterway network. The analysis by U.S. and Canadian scientists says it could take as few as 10 male and female pairs to establish a population in the lakes if they find good spawning areas. It says more than 70 rivers across the Great Lakes could serve that purpose. The report suggests that the major ecological consequence resulting from the establishment and spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes would likely be an overall decline in certain native fish species, including some commercially and recreationally important ones. Such declines could occur because Asian carp would compete with prey fish that primarily eat plankton. This could lead to reduced growth rates and declines in abundance of prey fish species, and thus predatory fish would also likely decline. TAGS: sustainable, fish, fisheries, fishing, Asian carp, Great Lakes Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 February 2013 13:23 ) |
Death of Evidence: protesting Harper's assault on science Tuesday, 10 July 2012 17:14 | Author: Scott Parsons, Ph.D., ADM, Science (Retired) |
Taking advantage of a major conference in Ottawa, thousands of scientists marched on Parliament Hill today to protest what they termed the "Death of Evidence." The Grim Reaper led the way. The scientists were protesting the relentless and continuing assault by the Harper govt on science in Canada. The Harper govt is noted for basing its policies on ideology and political convenience rather than evidence. Whether it be criminal policy or environmental inaction the Harper has a consistent track record of ignoring evidence and shooting the messenger. Its cuts to DOE and Fisheries and Oceans are vivid proof of its disdain for those who seek knowledge and evidence-based decision making. Examples include the slashing of environmental monitoring, the closure of the world class Experimental Lakes research facility in northern Ontario and cuts to oceans and fisheries science. The recent jamming through Parliament of the Omnibus legislation that gutted the habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act and the environmental assessment process in an attempt to ensure swift approval of petroleum development projects for the govt's friends in big industry illustrate clearly this govt's contempt for evidence, facts and the views of everyday Canadians. A tip of the hat to the scientists who marched today! May the Opposition Parties renew the fight with vigour when parliament reconvenes! TAGS: sustainable, oceans, fisheries, environment, Death of Evidence, Harper govt, fish habitat, Fisheries Act, environmental assessment Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 February 2013 13:24 ) EU making slow progress in reducing overcapacity Monday, 09 July 2012 17:35 | Author: Administrator |
Overcapacity-far too many boats for the volume of fish available- was identified as the primary shortcoming of EU fisheries management in a 2009 Commission Green Paper. A new report this week indicates that little progress is being made in addressing this problem, In 2010 fleet capacity expressed in engine power and tonnage was reduced on average by 2 and 4 per cent respectively. Technological progress probably offsets these minor capacity reductions. The report's findings put into question the efficiency of publicly financed capacity reductions. A 2011 Court of Auditors' report also concluded the failure of the current measures, and advocates either a new approach or better application of existing measures. Report available here: TAGS: sustainable, fisheries, fishing, overcapacity, EU, excessive fishing effort, overfishing Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 February 2013 13:24 ) Harper govt gutting fish habitat protection Tuesday, 29 May 2012 12:51 | Author: Scott Parsons |
The Harper govt in its Omnibus Budget legislation Bill C-38 is destroying the environmental assessment process in Canada and gutting the fish habitat provisions of the Fiaheries Act. There has been a widespead negative reaction to this move by environmental groups, university scientists and opposition politicians. This reaction is grounded in facts. Removing protection for fish habitats is drawing the most fire. Currently Section 35 of the Fisheries Act requires an environmental review before someone can alter or destroy a body of water that is vital to the life cycle of fish.The Conservative bill kills the reference to habitat and instead places protection on fish that are part of a commercial, recreational or aboriginal fishery. I worked for the government for 35 years before retiring in 2002. I oversaw fish habitat as Fisheries and Oceans assistant deputy minister from 1994 to 1999. I quickly learned that environmental groups considered Section 35 the most crucial piece of environmental legislation in the country. In a recent interview with the Hallifax Chronicle Herald I pointed out that this is “much more than a minor definitional change. Basically, they’re gutting the Fisheries Act. They’re gutting the most powerful piece of environmental legislation in Canada. In my opinion, it’s a regressive move, a move back to the Stone Age of fish habitat management." http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/90484-critics-assail-conservatives-for-gutting-fisheries-protections TAGS: sustainable, fisheries, fish habitat,habitat protection,Fisheries Act, Scott Parsons // .Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 February 2013 13:24 ) EU NAFO observer scheme a fiasco Tuesday, 29 May 2012 12:20 | Author: Scott Parsons |
The Harper govt made much ado in 2009 about revisions to the NAFO Convention that it claimed would improve conservation and enforcement. Four former DFO executives (including myself) fought these amemdments "tooth and nail" because we knew that NFO would remain a toothless tiger. We succeeded in getting the House of Commons to pass a majority resolution calling on the Harper govt to reject these amendments. Thumbing its nose at Parliament, in a now only too familiar gesture, the Harper govt responded by announcing that Canada would ratify the amended Convention. What has been happening since then? A few days ago the UK Guardian newspaper reported the results of an investigation into the EU observer scheme in the NAFO Area. It reported that observers monitoring European fish quotas are being regularly intimidated, offered bribes and undermined by the fishing crews they are observing. More than 20 former and current observers on Portuguese and Spanish ships said that they had experienced tactics such as beingput under surveillance, deprived of sleep, or threatened with being thrown overboard, or having their official documentation stolen by fishing crews to conceal a culture of overfishing. More here http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/18/fishing-inspectors-intimidated-bribed-crews?intcmp=122 TAGS: sustainable, fisheries, overfishing, EU fisheries observers, Spanish fleet, observers intimidated // .Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 February 2013 13:25 ) |
