P.E.I. Fishermen's Association calls for more timely, better monitoring in wake of federal report
CBC
The fishing industry off Prince Edward Island needs more timely and better monitoring given the impending impacts of climate change, according to the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association.
Executive director Ian MacPherson said a recent report from the federal environment commissioner underlined the importance of doing more, and better science — especially as the crucial herring and mackerel fisheries remain closed to Island fishers.
Commissioner Jerry DeMarco's Nov. 7 report said Fisheries and Oceans Canada lacks the ability to collect timely and dependable data on what and how much is being caught.
"Certainly anytime we get gaps in science, and we've got several fisheries that are closed right now, that's a real concern because we want as much accurate and timely data as possible," MacPherson said.
"Herring and mackerel are the big ones here on Prince Edward Island, important fisheries to us, and we'd like to get them reopened — and we realize these are science-based decisions, but you need accurate and timely information," MacPherson said.
"We're also working with the new minister, and she's very aware of our concerns around some of these fisheries and the need to get the correct information.
"No one wants to be in a situation where our fishery's closed. That hurts everyone."
MacPherson said the PEIFA is working on its own research to collect more timely data.
"We could see the phasing in of electronic logs in the future; that'll be another way to collect data in real time," he said. "We're developing our own application so that our members all have something that they're familiar with, and that they've had input in on the development."
MacPherson said there is a lot of discussion around technology because much of the reporting now is done manually, and not submitted until the season ends.
"A lot of times we don't get a report on a fishery till about six months later. So when you're having those meetings to decide what you're going to do for the resource in the next year, that's not always timely," he said.
"At the end of the day, the harvesters want accurate and timely data."
Climate change will also make it important to have proper monitoring of fish stocks, MacPherson said.
"Data gaps will have a more profound effect if they're happening now versus 10 years ago," he said. "At the end of the day, we want to keep all our fisheries sustainable, and we want to help rebuild the ones that have been impacted the most severely."