A recent audit of Canada’s fisheries highlights progress in rebuilding depleted fish populations through science-based management and Indigenous collaboration. However, critical gaps persist, with one-third of stocks in uncertain health and two-thirds depleted or unprotected. Urgent federal action is needed to prevent long-term depletion and ensure economic prosperity and global leadership.

With Canada’s fisheries contributing $4.6 billion annually and employing 72,000 people, healthy fish stocks are crucial for the seafood economy. Rebuilding efforts offer long-term certainty for harvesters, improve food security, restore biodiversity, and position Canada as a global leader in low-carbon protein production. Accelerating fish stock recovery is also fiscally prudent, reducing long-term losses and supporting coastal resilience.

Despite some progress in creating new rebuilding plans, critical gaps remain in fish stock health, rebuilding action speed, and science-based decision-making. Indigenous Knowledge Systems lack meaningful inclusion, forage fish stocks and climate change considerations pose risks, and transparency and accountability are crucial for sustainable fisheries management. Recommendations to Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson include prioritizing fisheries sustainability, expanding the ecosystem approach, enhancing Indigenous reconciliation, and investing in climate-ready fisheries.

Oceana Canada’s recommendations aim to reverse declines and accelerate a national fisheries comeback, advocating for protecting all federally managed stocks, expanding the Forage Species Policy, including Indigenous Knowledge Systems, investing in timely assessments and climate-resilient fisheries, and promoting transparency and accountability in decision-making. These actions are essential to protect the fishing industry, restore biodiversity, and support coastal communities reliant on fish.

Read more at GlobeNewswire: Rebuilding Canada’s Fisheries is Key to Ocean Recovery and