Summary of 2020 Sustainability Survey for Fisheries

Summaries for section 1 and 2 results of the 2020 Sustainability Survey for Fisheries.

On this page

• Precautionary Approach Policy
• Status of integrated fishery management plans
• Implementation of the Policy for Managing Bycatch
• Species at Risk

Precautionary Approach Policy

The results show that reference points and harvest control rules of the Precautionary Approach Policy have been put in place for many, but not all, of the 180 stocks. Highlights of the results for this section include:

• of the 180 stocks:
• 46% (83)  have upper stock references
• 62% (112) have limit reference points
• 64% (116) have harvest control rules
• 55% (99) have removal references for the status zone the stock is currently in
• of the 23  stocks currently classified as in the critical zone:
• 9 have a stock rebuilding plan
• 8 have rebuilding plans under development
• of the 78 stocks classified as uncertain:
• 3 are at levels such that serious harm is likely
• 29 are at levels such that serious harm is possible

Some of the questions in this section are used to report on indicators in the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators report.

Status of integrated fishery management plans

The results show that  89% (161 of 180) of the stocks are part of an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP). The fisheries on these stocks are managed using the IFMP.

Currently, there are 61 IFMPs covering 161 stocks. However, in some cases, IFMPs need to be updated.

In the absence of an IFMP, some of the stocks are managed using other types of fishery management plans, such as a Conservation Harvesting Plan.

Implementation of the Policy for Managing Bycatch

The results show that elements of the Policy for Managing Bycatch have been implemented in some of the fisheries on the 180 stocks. However, this policy hasn’t been fully implemented.

Retained bycatch

The fisheries on 61% (109 of 180) of the stocks have retained bycatch. For these:

• 81% (88 of 109) have fully or partially assessed the risks they pose to the retained bycatch
• 83% (90 of 109) have bycatch management measures fully or partially in place
• 67% (60 of 90) are fully or partially working to achieve their objectives

Non-retained bycatch

The fisheries on 71% (128 of 180) of the stocks have non-retained bycatch. For these:

• 83% (106 of 128) have fully or partially assessed the risks they pose to the non-retained bycatch
• 84% (107 of 128) have bycatch management measures fully or partially in place
• 67% (72 of 107) are fully or partially working to achieve their objectives

Species at Risk

The results show that fisheries on  67% (120 of 180) of the stocks interact with aquatic species listed under the Species at Risk Act.

Where interactions do occur, fishery management measures to mitigate the risks to these species are in place in fisheries on 93% (112 of 120) of these stocks.