West Coast Fisheries: Sharing Risks and Benefits

During its consideration of Bill C-68, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans heard contrasting testimony on the impacts of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) current management. It was felt that DFO’s management focused on biological productivity and had insufficient consideration of social, economic and institutional aspects, causing B.C’s fisheries to lag behind Atlantic Canada in economic performance and employment.

In response, they called for a re-evaluation of the impact of the current regime on fisheries management outcomes and called to provide the government with options and recommendations to improve outcomes.

The resulted recommendations work on improving the social, economic and cultural outcomes of B.C fisheries and work to close the gap between B.C fisheries and the thriving fisheries in Atlantic Canada.