What's new

• Environment and the MFU Clean Oceans Initiative
 

The Maritime Fishermen’s Union (MFU) is taking a proactive approach to the health of the environment that feeds their livelihood – the sea. The organization has recently established a Clean Oceans Committee. This sets the stage for future actions and discussions within its own organization, other industry groups as well as the public, on the subject of environmentally responsible fishing.

In keeping with the environmental theme of our 30th annual convention in February of 2007, the MFU unanimously passed a resolution to undertake a new campaign to raise fishermen’s awareness of the importance of a clean environment in collaboration with the different levels of government.

This is not the first MFU initiative on the problem of marine debris and the benefits of a clean ocean. In 1989 the MFU’s Ship to Shore campaign created posters which were placed on wharves, and ran TV and radio ads in an effort to make those using the ocean think about bringing their waste back to shore. The campaign encouraged fishermen to become part of the solution and protect the health of the eco-system on which they depend. This past initiative succeeded in both reducing marine debris, and conveying a clear and lasting message.

The issue of the health of our oceans continues to grow in importance, and in this region, many fish harvesters, Harbour Authorities (HA’s), Government representatives and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) have been meeting to deal with the growing problem of the disposal of frozen bait packaging. The MFU has been actively involved in these discussions and has been instrumental in rekindling interest in this and other environmental issues relating to our oceans. While bait packaging is a significant problem for the local marine environment, our committee sees a need to broaden that focus to one that views clean oceans and responsible fishing practices as basic to a sustainable future for our fisheries.

Clean Oceans Committee
Maritime Fishermen’s Union (506) 532-2485
 

____________________________________________
 

This page provides information about Marine habitat and the environment in the Atlantic region.
 

By this initiative, the MFU aims at bringing public and fishermen awareness on environmental issues that affect the fisheries, at sea as well as from the shoreline.

______________________________________________________

Environmental Marine Studies
 

• The Maritime Fishermen’s Union and the Future of the Fishery
 

Shediac (NB), November 07, 2006 – The Maritime Fishermen’s Union (MFU) wishes to comment the results published by Boris Worm of Dalhousie University on the deterioration of commercial fishing stocks by 2050.

The MFU has constantly raised the question of conservation and sustainability of the fishing resource since its foundation 30 years ago. The organization, with a membership of approximately 1500 inshore fish harvesters on the Eastern Coast of New Brunswick and in Nova Scotia, has recommended aggressive conservation measures during the last 15 years as a positive contribution to the overall responsibility for the future of the fishery in the Gulf of St-Lawrence.

Recently in an effort to mitigate the impact of an important drop in NB lobster landings, the MFU has put in place an Inshore Transition and Development Plan with the aim of improving the viability of inshore fish harvesters through: 1- An important reduction of the number of inshore fish harvesters, 2-Immediate measures for the reduction of the effort on the resource (and for the its enhancement), 3- Initiatives to better understand the state of the marine environment and, 4- Projects for the development of coastal communities’ economy and capacity. In the course of the first year of implementation of the Plan, results have surpassed expectations and continue forward. More specific to the question of sustainability of the resource, projects such as Homarus and Pecten have permitted for the seeding of millions of lobster larvae and scallop spats in a natural habitat. These techniques, perfected by the MFU in conjunction with the Coastal Zones Research Institute (CZRI), the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture NB (Marine Centre in Shippagan, NB) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), are attempting to give a helping hand to these species in their natural environment.

On another note, inshore fish harvesters are very concerned with coastal pollution and the lack of investments injected into research of the most important Atlantic species (i.e. lobster and herring). It is nonetheless encouraging to note that environmental initiatives are now an important part of the MFU and that environmental research involving fish harvester knowledge are multiplying. The MFU has concentrated on the Northumberland Strait and on the Bay of Chaleur recently. Fish harvesters wish to know more about the state of the marine ecosystem in which they work and the causes for major problems. In conclusion, notwithstanding efforts made for the future of the fishery, the MFU recognizes the enormous challenges that lie ahead for the marine ecosystem.

The organization nonetheless believes that efforts must continue by all stakeholders of the Atlantic fishing industry in order to act for the best interests of a sustainable fishery and its resource, while taking into account the reality of inshore fish harvesters that depend on the fishing resource for their livelihood.

For more information:
Eric Arseneau
Environment Coordinator
Tel: (506) 532-2485
 

___________________________________________________

• AVC centre (UPEI)
See Vision H2O (Bassins versants de Cap-Pelé).
AVC Centre

 

• Northumberland Strait Water Quality Study - Dec. 2005

(The Water Quality report is available by e-mail only.
Write to us at shediac@mfu-upm.com.
Email: Eric@mfu-upm.com
 

______________________________________________________

*** Proposed Links related to Environmental Issues and the Fisheries:

• Lobster Science - Lobster Molt & Quality Project for LFAs 33 / 34
- See lobsterscience.ca

• Southeastern New Brunswick Coastal Stewardship Project
- See SENBCSP

• Northumberland Strait Ecosystem Working Group
* Designed by Roméo Boudreau from the Communication Branch at DFO Gulf region.
- See NSEWG
 

• Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- See NEFS

 

• Chlorine Chemistry Council
- See CCC

• Dioxin Homepage
- See DHP

 

• Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
- See FRCC

 

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- See (FAO)

 

• UN Atlas of the Oceans
- See Oceans Atlas

 

• Ocean Management Research Network
- See Ocean Management Research Network

 

• Traditional Fisheries Knowledge Internet Mapping Application
- See TFK

 

• NB Aquatic BioWeb
- See NBABW

 

• EarthTrends – The Environmental Information Portal
- See EarthTrends.org

 

• Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability
- See Coalition-SGSL

 

• Oceans & Habitat Branch, DFO
- See Oceans & Habitat, Maritimes Region

 

• Oceans Action Plan, DFO
- See OAP


 

• Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management Initiative
- See (ESSIM)