Canadian geoduck fishery facing nearly 40 percent closure of harvest area through MPAs

Published 2024년 3월 18일

Tridge summary

The proposed marine protected areas (MPA) by the MPA Network B.C. Northern Shelf Initiative Network Action Plan could potentially lead to a 50% reduction in the annual catch of the geoduck fishery in British Columbia, Canada. The Underwater Harvesters Association (UHA) has raised concerns that these closures, some of which overlap with historic fishing grounds, could threaten the viability of the fishery and others in the province. The UHA also claims that their feedback has been largely overlooked in the MPA establishment process. The financial implications of the proposed MPAs could exceed CAD 130 million in losses for the region's fisheries.

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Original content

The geoduck fishery in British Columbia, Canada, is potentially facing the loss of up to half of its yearly catch through proposed marine protected areas (MPA) that would close access to fishing grounds.The MPA Network B.C. Northern Shelf Initiative Network Action Plan is proposing closures in a number of areas throughout the region, covering various areas of shoreline, kelp forest, and open ocean with different types of conservation designations. According to the Underwater Harvesters Association – which represents geoduck fishers in B.C. – a number of the areas in the network overlap with historic fishing grounds and could potentially jeopardize the viability of the fishery, as well as others like it in the province.“It will be disastrous for commercial fisheries in B.C. if it goes through as is,” Underwater Harvesters Association (UHA) Executive Director Grant Dovey told SeafoodSource during Seafood Expo North America (SENA) – which ran from 10 to 12 March in Boston, ...

Source: Seafoodsource