Federal government restricts new Beaufort Sea fisheries, Report

Canada on Friday restricted large-scale fishing in a swath of the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic as part of the country’s effort to protect its marine resources from existing and potential threats.

Researchers say Arctic fisheries may benefit as climate change forces commercial fish species further north.

There is no commercial fishing in the Beaufort Sea right now, but there have been eight applications for exploratory fishing licences since 2002.

The government’s new policy also says that aboriginal fishers will get first dibs on any new fishing opportunities in Beaufort waters, which are located off Canada’s northwest Arctic coast.

“This is a major step toward protecting Arctic fisheries, and we commend Canada’s leadership on this issue,” said Louie Porta, policy director for Pew’s Oceans North Canada project, in a news release.

The Beaufort Sea Integrated Fisheries Management Framework requires that future commercial fisheries have the support of the Inuvialuit who live in the region, not harm local harvests, and provide meaningful economic benefits to local communities, says the Pew Research Trust.

“The Inuvialuit depend on a healthy ecosystem to support abundant populations of marine mammals and fish that for them represent food security and cultural continuity,” Porta said.

Agencies/Canadajournal