See Food Fishing History Fishing is Canadas oldest

See? Food!

Fishing History �Fishing is Canada’s oldest industry. �Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) found lots of fish here in 1497, and kicked off the Atlantic fishing trade in Canada �Now, there’s much less, and that’s a problem. �Canadians don’t eat a lot of fish compared to other countries, so most is exported.

What do we fish for? � 3 types of fish: �Ground Fish (Bottom feeders like cod, halibut, and redfish) �Pelagic Fish (Open water feeders like Salmon, herring and tuna) �Shellfish (Crustaceans and Molluscs like lobster, mussels and shrimp)

East Coast • Until recently, one of the best fishing grounds. • The Grand Banks (which are only about 200 m deep) get a lot of sunlight. • More sunlight means more plankton. More plankton means more fish.

Grand Banks Cross Section

Challenges �There were lots of fish here until recently. Where did they all go? �Overfishing: The catch limit placed on fishermen for years may have been too high, based on overestimates. �Improved Fishing Technology: Bigger boats, better nets and sonar and satellite systems. �Foreign Fishing Fleets: Canada’s control extends to 370 km past our coastline. However, lots of foreign countries like to try to sneak in and grab fish. �Destructive Fishing Practices: Using big nets, sometimes you pull up fish you don’t intend to. �Changes in environmental conditions: Climate change is affecting saline levels in the water. Also, less seal hunting means more seals to eat fish stocks.

West Coast • Smaller industry than on the East Coast. • No equivalent of the Grand Banks to encourage huge fish stocks. • Problems with the East Coast have made scientists take a closer look at the West Coast industry, to see what needs fixing.

Challenges �Overfishing: Like on the East Coast. �Changes in the Environment: �Salmon prefer water colder than 7 degrees C. If temperatures continue to rise, then the salmon will move further North. �No fishing treaty with the US: Canada wants to fish less, but USA doesn’t believe restrictions are needed.

Aquaculture �Fish Farming �Easier production: all the fish are in one spot, so it’s easier, cheaper and safer to get the fish �$837. 3 million in 2007 � 30% of total fisheries in Canada � 85% of production is exported to over 20 countries.

Problems with Aquaculture �Farmed fish are fed using “wild” fish. Huge impact on wild fisheries. �Farmed fish often escape from their pens, interbreed with wild fish, and lower genetic diversity �Fish in confined spaces are more prone to diseases and parasites, like sea lice. �Fish waste, uneaten food, antibiotics, chemicals, pesticides, and dead organisms pollute the surrounding water and contaminate it

“The Turbot War” �In 1995, Canada (backed by the UK and Ireland) stopped a Spanish fishing trawler in international waters and arrested its crew �Canada claimed that European ships were illegally overfishing Greenland turbot, just outside Canada's declared 370 km Exclusive Economic Zone. �No shots fired, but remains the only conflict between EU members states to date.

Food Fight! Be it Resolved That… …”In Vitro” meat is a good solution for environmental issues surrounding meat. • • • . . . Monsanto is right to sue farmers to protect the patents on their seeds. • • • … government subsidies for farmers have a negative impact on global trade and should be eliminated. • • • …the “hundred mile diet” is the best way to minimize the environmental impact of food consumption. • • • … Canada has the right to use force to protect its fish stocks from foreign fishing vessels. • • • … Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are a safe and healthy solution too many food issues. • • • Other ideas? Clear with me.