Science for Canada’s Fisheries Rehabilitation Needs

Abstract

A brief, generalized review of the current status of salmonid fisheries on the west and east coasts, and of selected representative waters in the freshwater area is presented. It is concluded that many fish communities and/or fish stocks are depressed, collapsed, or extinct as a result of severe stresses imposed directly, or indirectly, by man’s activities. Rehabilitation of fish stocks and fish communities to levels approximating those of early years, and to levels capable of supporting more stable yields to meet growing client requirements appears practical. The need for explicit policy decisions with regard to sea ranching and rehabilitation as options for approaches to increasing fish abundance is stressed. Rehabilitation of stocks and communities will require additional science in areas such as hatching, rearing and selective breeding, fisheries engineering, and in the more precise definition of natural productive capacity of waters. Effective fisheries rehabilitation programs, and fisheries management generally, require: development of fisheries information systems; an adaptive or experimental approach; more social and economic data; synthesis and communication of science available; and fundamental reconsideration of the traditional institutional arrangements for fisheries work. Some important fisheries rehabilitation programs, carefully planned and assessed, can proceed immediately with confidence in their success; others must await improvement in water quality.