Ottawa restricts possible Beaufort Sea fisheries
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [The Globe and Mail] By Bob Weber - Oct 18, 2014
The federal government has implemented a ban on new commercial fisheries in the western Arctic until more research can be done.
The policy, announced on Friday, October 17, has long been requested by environmental groups and follows a similar U.S. decision that was enacted five years ago.
“It's based on the same principles of wanting to apply true precautionary principles in advance of fisheries development," said Louie Porta of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Oceans North Canada.
“We generally fish, study and manage. In this case, both [U.S. and Canadian] planning initiatives reverse that order."
Under the policy, which was developed with local aboriginal groups, new commercial fisheries in the Beaufort Sea will only be considered after research has shown surplus and sustainable stocks. The policy also gives local Inuvialuit first dibs on any new licences granted in those waters...
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