Study shows how protected areas can be part of the solution to fisheries crisis – WWF-Canada

HALIFAX, Nov. 22 /CNW/ – WWF-Canada and the New England-based
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) today released a report detailing a new
approach to planning for marine conservation that can help maximise long term
conservation and economic gains while minimising immediate economic costs to
the fishing and other industries.

The report outlines a flexible approach to mapping that can help decision
makers in Canada and the United States identify a network of priority areas
for conservation. It could also play an important role in helping Canada meet
its international commitment to protect ten percent of its oceans through MPA
networks by 2012. Currently less than one percent of Canada’s waters are
protected.
“There are certain places in our ocean that deserve protection, and the
payoff will be bigger fish, healthier seas and stronger coastal economies,”
said Jennifer Smith, Manager, Conservation Planning, WWF-Canada. “We hope this
study sparks a wider public discussion about where those places are and what
steps we need to take to make sure our oceans are healthy and productive in
the future.”
WWF-Canada and CLF brought together experts to map areas that contained
“high conservation values” such as whale abundance, areas important to
juvenile fish, areas of high food supply, and diverse habitat types in the
Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank and the Scotian Shelf. The study then tested an
innovative new approach that generated different options in designing a
network of protected areas that would conserve biodiversity while minimising
impacts on the commercial fishing industry and other users who rely on the
oceans resources.
While mapping areas of high conservation value for zoning purposes might
be new for Canada’s oceans, it is well accepted on land, where more than 8% of
Canada’s land base is protected. The report positions MPAs as an important but
underused tool, among others we can use, as we take a more careful approach to
planning where, when and how our oceans are used. Protected areas are but one
aspect of an overall zoning plan. For successful fisheries management, these
measures must also be accompanied by better practices on the water, such as
fishing gear that minimises bycatch.
“Scientists recently raised the alarm in a paper that forecasted an end
to global commercial fisheries by 2048,” said Dr. Robert Rangeley, Vice
President, Atlantic Region, WWF-Canada. “That study also recognised the
importance of biodiversity in maintaining healthy and productive ecosystems,
and identified MPAs as a key tool in reversing the path we’re on now.”
While MPA networks are gaining a foothold around the world, Rangeley
acknowledged that bringing others on board will take work. “Industry has
legitimate concerns about how conservation measures will affect them, and we
designed this study to show how these concerns can be brought into the
equation. We need to work together to create a plan that balances conservation
with sustainable use.”
“Everyone recognizes that our oceans are in trouble. We hope this new
approach can be a powerful tool to help bring them back to health and ensure
that we can keep fishing for a long time to come,” concluded Rangeley.
Note to Editors:
A map showing abundance of juvenile Atlantic wolffish in the study area
is available upon request.
For further information: Kyle Ferguson, Manager, Communications,
WWF-Canada, Tel: (902) 482-1105 x 41, Cell: (902) 225-1541, Email:
kferguson@wwfcanada.org