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June 2015
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Report

Canada’s Pacific Groundfish Trawl Habitat Agreement: A Global First in an Ecosystem Approach to Bottom Trawl Impacts

Published by: Academic journal
Authored by: Scott Wallace, Bruce Turris, John Driscoll, Karin Bodtker, Brian Mose, Gordon Munro
Published in: Marine Policy

Oceans and fresh water fisheries and aquaculture, groundfish, conservation, British Columbia, policy and regulation, industry

1.9 MB

The impact of bottom trawling to seafloor habitat has been one of the major marine conservation issues over the last two decades. This paper describes the conditions, process, and the first two years of results of a precedent setting ecosystem-based management plan to address the habitat impacts of bottom trawling in Canada’s Pacific waters. In British Columbia, Canada, industry and conservation organizations worked collaboratively over a period of three years to develop measures which formally took effect in April 2012.

The measures include:

  1. Ecosystem based trawling boundaries
  2. The world’s first habitat quota
  3. An encounter protocol
  4. A habitat review committee.

Measures implemented have resulted in reduced impacts to sensitive benthic habitat features such as coral and sponge complexes. The potential for a similar agreement and management reform elsewhere requires conditions including seafood markets, an effective ENGO sector, a strong regulatory environment, intra-industry cooperation and the proper incentives.

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Charting Coastal Currents: Canada’s Pacific Communities Talk Climate, Culture, Oceans and the Future

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This report highlights the concerns and hopes of coastal British Columbians, gathered during a 2015 tour of the traditional territories of 12 First Nations.

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Oceans and fresh water
April 2009

Cleaning Up Our Ocean: A Report on Pollution from Shipping-Related Sources in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) on the British Columbia Coast

Michelle Molnar, Nicole Koshure

This report aims to assist conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest by assessing the pollution impacts of the shipping sector, as well as offering recommendations for integrated management.

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Oceans and fresh water
March 2014

Safeguarding B.C.’s Coastal Waters: Marine Protected Areas for Fishing, Tourism and Communities

Marine protected areas safeguard our natural treasures, as well as coastal economies. British Columbians are asking for greater marine protection.

Read More

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© 2023 David Suzuki Foundation. Website by Briteweb

© 2023 David Suzuki Foundation. Website by Briteweb