NR-HQ-01-85E

Canada endorses International Declaration to introduce ecosystem considerations into Fisheries Management

October 5, 2001

OTTAWA -- Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today expressed satisfaction with Canada’s participation this week in a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem, in Reykjavik, Iceland. A key outcome of the conference was a Declaration expressing commitment to increase international cooperation for introducing ecosystem considerations into fisheries management. The Declaration will be presented to the FAO Conference in November and to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in September 2002.

"While Canada has taken a number of steps to introduce ecosystem considerations in the management of its fisheries, it will take time and commitment from all those who use the marine environment and its resources to fully implement such an approach," said Mr. Dhaliwal. "It will also require greater international cooperation to strengthen efforts to better evaluate and understand the impact of fisheries on marine ecosystems and to manage these fisheries responsibly. This conference is a major step in sharing our experiences, identifying the challenges and developing a coordinated approach."

Evidence is accumulating that fishing activity has wide effects in the marine ecosystem, not only on the target species. Examples include fishing activities that may result in the capture of species at risk, or species that are predators for other types of fish within the ecosystem. As well, fishing gear can alter marine habitats, and in extreme cases may reduce the ecosystem’s productivity. All these factors should be considered in fisheries management plans and in fishing operations to promote conservation of marine resources, and sustainable harvests from Canada’s oceans.

Canada’s leadership in this area was widely acknowledged at the conference and the companion Scientific Symposium. The Canadian delegation reiterated Canada's commitment to continue to work with the international community to help strengthen responsible fishing practices around the world and outlined some of the measures currently underway in Canada. For example, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has undertaken a number of science-based management initiatives to incorporate ecosystem considerations in the development and implementation of fishing and oceans management plans, including:

• Implementation of Objectives-Based Fisheries Management (OBFM), a way of fisheries management planning based on clear objectives related to ecosystems as well as target stocks and fishing performance. These objectives will provide direction for scientific research towards increasing our understanding of the functioning of marine ecosystems, improving the ability to measure ecosystem health and increasing the number of management measures available to protect and restore ecosystem quality. Pilot programs are being introduced in fisheries in Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic waters.

• Under Canada’s Ocean’s Act, introduction of an Integrated Management approach aimed at managing all oceans activities to reflect ecosystem considerations by setting science-based objectives for large management areas. A collaborative process is then used to bring together interested stakeholders representing all oceans activities to seek consensus on the best sustainable use of the marine environment and its resources. This approach also includes new conservation tools such as Marine Protected Areas to conserve and protect unique habitats, endangered or threatened marine species and their habitats, marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity, and any other marine resource or habitat requiring special protection.

• Application of the Canadian Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which is based on the FAO Code of Conduct and which was developed by the industry. The Canadian Code contains guidelines detailing the requirements for responsible fishing operations, including guidelines on selective fishing, catch monitoring, industry-government collaboration, research, and public and stakeholder education. The Code is implemented through fisheries management plans that are developed in collaboration between fisheries managers and the fishing industry. Under Principle 6 of the Code, fish harvesters are encouraged to minimize unintended bycatch and reduce waste and adverse impacts on the freshwater and marine ecosystems and habitats to ensure healthy stocks.

During the meeting, Canada also emphasized the importance of the 1995 United Nations Agreement on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (UNFA) and the need for only one more ratification for the Agreement to come into force. UNFA has been ratified by 29 nations and contains a number of obligations to incorporate ecosystem considerations in the conservation and management of high seas fisheries resources.

"UNFA is a key Agreement in ensuring the sustainable and responsible harvest of straddling stocks and highly migratory species off our 200-mile limit. Its implementation is a top priority for Canada and we are leading efforts to ensure that it is ratified by as many nations as possible," said Mr. Dhaliwal.

The FAO Conference comprised over 400 participants with national delegations participating from 58 FAO member countries and 26 non-government organizations. The objectives of the FAO conference were to gather and review the best available knowledge on marine ecosystem issues; to identify means by which ecosystem considerations can be included in fisheries management; and, to identify future challenges and relevant strategies.