Life and death in the open ocean

Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 13:11:37 -0400 (AST)
From: Mark Butler <ar427@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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For Immediate Release
12 January, 2000
Sender: sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca
Precedence: bulk

Study on Swordfish Released

The Ecology Action Centre released a report today on the past, present and
future of the swordfish fishery in Atlantic Canada.  Gretchen Fitzgerald,
the reportUs author, interviewed over 40 fishermen, many of them old
timers, as well as scientists, managers, and industry representatives. 

The report is the first comprehensive study of the swordfish fishery in
Atlantic Canada and covers swordfish biology, the history of the fishery,
including First Nations involvement, conservation concerns, and the rich
culture of the fishery. Much of the report is in the fishermenUs own
words: 

On swordfish:

A swordfish is the prettiest blue youUd ever see. I'd be seeing it in my
sleep.

On bycatch in longlining:

We got so sick of it: the little teeny fish, the leatherbacks, blackfish
[pilot whales] all balled up, sharks by the thousands.
  
On the culture:

I've listened to swordfishing tales since I was five years old. The whole
family was into it. It's a disease, an addiction...it's got pot all beat
to hell. 

The report reached two main conclusions about the two methods used to
catch swordfish: 

1.surface longlining has far-reaching impacts on the oceanUs pelagic
ecosystem because of the number of swordfish caught including immature
fish and the bycatch of other species, such as sharks and turtles, and
therefore should be closely regulated; and  

2.harpooning, while not without impact, is a more sustainable way to catch
swordfish and should be encouraged.

Unfortunately, at the present time the Government is pursuing policies
which are discriminatory toward the harpoon fleet.

Surface or pelagic longlinine gear consists of 30  or more miles of
floating line and baited hooks. The gear is set in the surface waters at
night. Harpooning gear basically consists of a harpoon and the harpooner.
Harpooning can only be done on calm days in mid to late summer when the
fish come to the surface.

The study also examined the rise and fall of the swordfish fishery off
Cape Breton. Up until the 1960s swordfish were a common sight off Cape
Breton, today you rarely see one. The fishermen interviewed identified
several causes for the decline including changes in oceanographic
conditions, overfishing by the harpoon fleet, changes in fishing patterns,
the spread of longlining in the NW Atlantic, and the construction of the
Canso causeway in 1955.
						-30-

For more information contact Mark Butler at 429-2202 


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The preceding message was posted on the Sustainable Maritimes
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Volunteer listowner: Paul Falvo   	sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca




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