Overfishing is killing our oceans. Our oceans have the most important ecosystems and provide 17% of the world's food sources, produce 50-80% of the world's oxygen, act as a carbon sink, and so much more. Although, if we keep the commercial fishing habits we have now, our fisheries will fall into total collapse by 2048.

Overfishing is a massive problem and is constantly drastically affecting the health of our oceans. Overfishing is not only extremely unsustainable but also contributes to 38.5 million tons of unwanted catch being discarded every year, damaging countless ecosystems and putting hundreds of species at risk of extinction. This contributes to the collapse of countless marine ecosystems. We need to fix the systems in place around the aquaculture and commercial fishing industries. We need to maintain sustainable levels of stock and prevent bycatch across the globe.

Facts about overfishing: 

• Over just 40 years there has been a decrease recorded in marine species of 39%
• Illegal and unregulated fishing constitutes an estimated 11-26 million tonnes (12-28%) of fishing worldwide 
• Almost 30% of fish stocks commercially fished are over-fished
• Over 60% of fish stocks are fully fished 
• About 38.5 million tonnes of bycatch results from the current preferred fishing practices each year

At the moment, Canada does not have any strict laws around overfishing. We do have The Fisheries Act, which addresses protected areas, and endangered species, but in theory, anyone with a commercial fish license could overfish Canadian stocks, and no punishment would occur. This needs to change. I suggest 1. Management through catch-limits,  2. Policies around interacting with non-target species, 3. Inforced gear/tackle regulations, 4. Increase traceability and accountability standards.

Management through catch limits would implement an allowance-like amount of harvest granted that can be fished a year, depending on the stocks. Policies around interacting with non-target species would implement laws around bycatch, and how fisheries must deal with an unwanted catch. For example, if they catch a marine mammal such as a seal or a shark, they must contact authorities to free it or potentially bring it somewhere for rehabilitation, instead of killing it. Inforced gear/tackle regulations would make sure companies have gear that is designed to benefit marine life and prevent bycatch. For example, requirements for industrial fishing gear should include;

-LED lights to prevent the catch of seabirds, marine mammals, and porpoises (acts as a warning device) 
-Ropes trailing behind boats to prevent the catch of seabirds (called tori lines) 
-Escape hatches for marine mammals

And finally, increasing traceability and accountability. Fishing industries in Canada typically seem to go unsupervised and unregulated. This needs to change.  

Sign this petition to gain the attention of the legislative government of Canada, and put these necessary policies into action!

Contacts Fisheries and oceans Canada here!

https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/contact/index-eng.htm