Overfishing in Canada and the United States: A Comparative Study of Policy and Legislation

Abstract

The purpose of this Capstone project was to first explore the causes of overfishing, then to explore how the issue is both viewed and dealt with in terms of policy and legislation in two highly comparable jurisdictions: Canada and the United States. The research draws to attention that there is a distinct lack of effective coastal commercial fisheries management in Canada and when compared to the United States, the degree of mismanagement becomes even more apparent. It is discovered that despite the magnitude of the collapse of the Atlantic cod fishery in Newfoundland, Canada has still yet to develop sufficient policy and legislation to effectively combat the ongoing issue of overfishing in coastal Canadian waters. This is sharply contrasted by U.S. fisheries management under the federal Magnuson-­‐ Stevens Act that by nearly all accounts has been monumental in the country’s progress in controlling overfishing. Researching the causes of overfishing and comparing fisheries policy and legislation in both countries gleans the conclusion that not only can overfishing issues be solved through strong federal fisheries management, but the United States is currently doing so through effective legislation that Canada desperately requires. Furthermore, it is recommended that Canada should achieve stronger federal fisheries management through the legislative measure of amending the federal Fisheries Act to not only recognize overfishing but to include rebuilding plans for overfished stocks. The recommended rebuilding plans are inspired by the stock rebuilding measures laid out in the United States’ federal Magnuson-­‐Stevens Act.