Fisheries

Trends in Discards in Trawl Fisheries Since the Introduction of Mandatory Observer Coverage in 1996

Click on graphs for larger versions.

Discard rates have been declining since the at-sea observer program was started in 1996.

Fish may be discarded at sea because they are not marketable, they are damaged or below minimum size limits, or the catch is too much for the vessel’s quota or capacity to handle.

In 1996, Fisheries and Oceans Canada introduced new management measures to reduce discard rates, including placing mandatory at-sea observers on most bottom and mid-water trawlers. Since then:

• The percentage of discards of all species declined slightly from about 25% in 1996 to 22% in 2003.

• Photo credit: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

  The percentage of discards of three species of inshore rockfish (including Pacific ocean perch) has declined from a high of 2.7% in 1997 to 1.4% in 2003.

Starting in 2006, Fisheries and Oceans Canada began to require full observer coverage and electronic monitoring for commercial groundfish fisheries. All fish will be counted, including discards, and fishers will have to have enough individual quotas to cover the discards.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth report [pdf].

Next : Taking Action >>