December 2011

Biodiversity Branch
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
300 Water Street, 5th Floor North Tower
Peterborough, ON
K9J 8M5

This document provides a framework for defining commercial fisheries in Ontario and how they integrate into the management of Ontario’s natural resources. It provides a focus for coordinating commercial fishing policies as well as providing linkages to other natural resource strategic policies, directives, and legislation.

Background

Ontario’s commercial fishery is one of the largest freshwater fisheries in North America. Operations range from traditional small scale fisheries to modern commercial fleet fisheries. The Great Lakes support the province’s largest commercial fisheries while other fisheries are conducted on many of the inland lakes. Inland fisheries range from small seasonal fisheries to moderate year round fisheries.

Commercial fisheries are supported by the province of Ontario because they:

  • form the economic basis for several communities on the Great Lakes as well as for many individuals in the eastern and northern regions of Ontario,
  • are often the most efficient and effective user of excess or surplus fish resources,
  • embody a legacy of social and cultural importance for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities,
  • strive to provide a wholesome food source both locally and internationally, and
  • provide resource managers with important information on the status of fish stocks.

Commercial fishing is described as the capturing or attempting to capture any species of fish from natural environments using various commercial capture gear (including but not limited to gill nets, pound or trap nets, seines, trawls, set lines or hoop nets) with the primary intent of selling the catch for human consumption (Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997). In the context of this policy it does not include aquaculture operations, bait fish operations, or Aboriginal subsistence or ceremonial fishing activity.

In 1992, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) released the Strategic Plan for Ontario Fisheries (SPOF II) which committed MNR to “protect healthy aquatic ecosystems” while also improving “cultural, social, and economic benefits from Ontario’s fisheries resource”. It also recommended “allocating aquatic resources fairly” to all interested parties “while ensuring sustainable benefits for future generations”.

Goal for commercial fisheries

To develop and support commercial fishing opportunities in Ontario waters while ensuring the long term sustainability of fish populations, safeguarding ecosystem function and biodiversity, meeting Aboriginal and treaty rights obligations and contribute to the socio-economic needs of all the people of Ontario.

Guiding principles for Ontario’s commercial fisheries

The following basic principles or statements help form the foundation for the management of resources utilized by commercial fisheries. Many of these originate in other MNR strategic policies and directives. They apply to all natural resources and are stated here in the context of commercial fisheries.

  • Fish resources belong to of all the people of Ontario.
  • Commercial fishing is economically and culturally important to people of Ontario.
  • Fish resources are limited and therefore there must be a limit to their use.
  • MNR has responsibility and authority to manage fisheries and fishing activity in Ontario
  • Fish resources have value; the use of which should provide a fair return (ecological, social, or economic) to the people of Ontario.
  • Decision making should be adaptive, transparent, and proactive, taking into consideration the best available science and existing knowledge.
  • First allocation of the resource will always go to conservation of the resource.
  • Ontario is committed to fulfilling its constitutional obligations with respect to Aboriginal and Treaty rights including obligations to consult and where appropriate, accommodate.
  • Bi-national commitments have an important role in the decision making process used to manage Ontario’s fishery resource for shared waters between Canada and the United States.
  • Partnerships, Fisheries Management Zone Councils, community-based stewardship programs and agreements with Aboriginal communities enhance Ontarian’s connection to the fisheries resource.

Objective 1. Embrace ecological sustainability

Maintain and restore ecosystem diversity and fish populations that provide for long term maintenance and restoration of resources for Ontario commercial fisheries.

Strategic management actions

  • Manage the fish resource in such a way as to ensure diverse, self sustaining, naturally reproducing fish populations continue to grow and thrive.
  • Recognize the role that commercial fisheries can have in forming fish community structure and manage the resource accordingly.
  • Use science as a foundation to assess ecosystem health and stock status and determine the magnitude of any allocation to fisheries.
  • Consider all sources of traditional knowledge in fisheries resource management decisions.
  • Collaborate with fishers, Aboriginal communities, academic institutions and other government agencies in the assessment of resource status and development of best management options.

Objective 2. Sustainable economic development

Safe and environmentally sound commercial fisheries that provide for sustainable economic opportunities.

Strategic management actions

  • Promote the development and use of ecologically sustainable and socially acceptable fishing practices.
  • Collaborate with commercial fishers and other interested parties in developing industry environmental policies and best practices.
  • Appropriate priority allocations shall be afforded where Aboriginal or treaty rights exist.
  • Encourage commercial fishers to explore options for un-utilized or under-utilized fish resources.
  • Work with commercial fishers toward more efficient and effective licencing and administration of the commercial fishery.
  • Manage fisheries through compliance with appropriate legislation, policies, and management plans.

Objective 3. Societal and cultural values

Commercial fisheries contribute to the social and cultural welfare of all the people of Ontario both now and in the future.

Strategic management actions

  • Balance the needs and interests of all commercial fisheries and the fish resource in a manner that respects Aboriginal and treaty rights, and the interests and needs of all the people of Ontario.
  • Manage commercial fisheries according to current fish health and safety standards and regulations.
  • Increase public awareness of the economic, ecological, cultural, and health benefits derived from commercial fisheries and their products for all the people of Ontario.
  • Make commercial fishing policies and strategic guiding documents readily available to the public.
  • Provide the people of Ontario with information on the state of the commercially harvested fish resources.

References

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, S.O. 1997, Chapter 41. (FWCA)

Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), 1972, revised 1987.

Protecting What Sustains Us, Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy. (OBS) (OMNR 2005)

Strategic Plan for Ontario’s Fisheries (SPOF II), An Aquatic Ecosystem Approach to Managing Fisheries. (OMNR 1992)

The Constitution Act, 1982

The Fisheries Act (R.S., 1985, c.F-14)