Fisheries: A Dwindling Resource

Riley ShanksBlock 1

• First nations and inuit were first to fish here in the 1500’s

• Natives gained great knowledge of fish growth in BC• Used traps and hooks• Only took what they needed because they didnt want to

over fish• Salmon fishing was a key economic activity for the First

Nations people• A commercial fishery was established in the 1870’s• Engines were created in the 1900’s and made fishing a

lot more accesible and easier for people• Salted and dried fish were popular in the early 1910’s

HISTORY OF BC FISHERIES

• Fishing became very important in local economies• Canned salmon was shipped and sold around the world• Introduction of freezer facilities benefited fishing

industry• Although the new ways of fishing, hand labour is still

required• The government was concerned about salmon survival so

they made regulatory changes of how many you could catch

• Climate change is now the biggest threat to fish of BC

1920-2000

Do We Have to stop Over Fishing?

• Is still a large food source of BC• Many people are employed by companies that are

involved with fishing and make a living off it • BC has one of the most valuable commercial industries • Many small communities maintain stable levels of

economy because of the fishing industry• Is a large export in BC harbours

IMPORTANCE OF FISHING INDUSTRY

Overfishing is a world wide problem in which fishermen, or people who catch fish, catch to many. This is called overfishing. Overfishing is when an ecosystem can no longer function properly because of the vast drop in fish population. Overfishing can occur in water bodies of any size, such as ponds, rivers, lakes or oceans. This can result in low biomass levels.

OVERFISHING

Some forms of overfishing, for example the overfishing of sharks, has led to the destruction of entire marine ecosystems. The problem with this is that if we continue to fish at the rate we do today, many species of fish and marine animals could go extinct. Whether a species or ecosystem can recover from overfishing depends on the condition an environment of the ecosystem, in which the species lives in.

Overfishing in BC effects the world nationally because fishing is a very large export in BC. If a species of fish such as the salmon was to go extinct, or be put on the endangered species list the economy would take a huge swing downwards and would lose tons of money. To add insult to injury, not only would we lose money for the lack of exports, other countries might no longer want to ship us stuff that we need because we aren’t giving them anything in return.

NATIONAL CONTEXT

Overfishing is a global problem with many serious economic and environmental effects. Everyday, millions of people around the world rely on fish as a source of food and a source of income. If we keep fishing at the rate we do today, not only will your local city not have fish, the whole world wont. Some places dont have access to fish and rely on such places like BC to ship it to them.

CONSEQUENCES

Do we have to stop Overfishing?Yes we do. In BC, if we keep fishing at the rate we are today, pretty soon there wont be any more fish to catch. Not only is there the threat of extinction, the Government could create a fishing law that restricts people from fishing. Many people would lose jobs because of this. In conclusion, Overfishing needs to stop.

SOLUTION?

http://www.fishharvesterspecheurs.ca/fishing-industry/

history

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/history-of

-commercial-fisheries

/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Coast

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/international/isu-global-eng.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overfishing

BIBLIOGRAPHY