The Fisheries
Canada is surrounded by three oceans: the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Arctic. Fishing in these oceans creates many jobs and produces a wide variety of food products. Commercial fishing is fishing for profit. Recreational or private fishing is not included in this category. There are three main commercial fishing regions in Canada. They are:
1. Pacific Fishery
2. Great Lakes / Lake Winnipeg Fishery
3. Atlantic Fishery
1. Pacific Fishery
2. Great Lakes / Lake Winnipeg Fishery
3. Atlantic Fishery
What is Aquaculture?
Aquaculture is fish farming. Instead of catching fish in the wild, the people who run aquaculture businesses grow fish and other seafood products. They are the farmers of the sea!
Aquaculture is fish farming. Instead of catching fish in the wild, the people who run aquaculture businesses grow fish and other seafood products. They are the farmers of the sea!
The Pacific Coast Fishery
The Pacific Coast Fishery off the coast of British Columbia is dependent on salmon species. There are two types of salmon you can ask for at the grocery store. One is wild salmon (caught in the oceans), and the other is farmed salmon (raised in captivity). The process of farming fish is called Aquaculture. Fish are either grown in fish ponds or in netted-off areas in the ocean. Much of the salmon we buy in Ontario is farmed fish.
In the past, there has been some controversy in the news about farmed salmon.
QUESTION! Why might some people disagree with the process to make farmed fish?
The Atlantic Coast Fishery
The Atlantic Coast Fishery has been dependent on the cod species. However, in recent years the numbers of cod have been steadily declining due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices.
The huge continental shelf off the coast of Newfoundland is called the Grand Banks. It is one of the best fishing grounds in the world, and is actually the extension of the Continental shelf of Canada which creates shallow water. There are a number of factors that make the Grand Banks one of the best fishing grounds in the world:
1. The continental shelf makes the water quite shallow in this area. This means more sunlight gets through to enable plant growth.
2. The mixing of the cold Labrador ocean current with the warm Gulf Stream current make conditions ideal for fish.
The Pacific Coast Fishery off the coast of British Columbia is dependent on salmon species. There are two types of salmon you can ask for at the grocery store. One is wild salmon (caught in the oceans), and the other is farmed salmon (raised in captivity). The process of farming fish is called Aquaculture. Fish are either grown in fish ponds or in netted-off areas in the ocean. Much of the salmon we buy in Ontario is farmed fish.
In the past, there has been some controversy in the news about farmed salmon.
QUESTION! Why might some people disagree with the process to make farmed fish?
The Atlantic Coast Fishery
The Atlantic Coast Fishery has been dependent on the cod species. However, in recent years the numbers of cod have been steadily declining due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices.
The huge continental shelf off the coast of Newfoundland is called the Grand Banks. It is one of the best fishing grounds in the world, and is actually the extension of the Continental shelf of Canada which creates shallow water. There are a number of factors that make the Grand Banks one of the best fishing grounds in the world:
1. The continental shelf makes the water quite shallow in this area. This means more sunlight gets through to enable plant growth.
2. The mixing of the cold Labrador ocean current with the warm Gulf Stream current make conditions ideal for fish.
Canadian Fisheries Classroom Activity
Number of people per group: 4 to 5
Task: Each group will focus on one of Canada's Fisheries: the Pacific Fishery, the Great Lakes / Lake Winnipeg Fishery, and the Atlantic Fishery. Each group will receive a handout that explains the fishery that they are assigned to. Using highlighters, the group will highlight information that they think is important. HINT: think about the 5 W's: Who, what, where, when, why! The class will complete the graphic organizer using the information they have highlighted. The group will then neatly write this information on chart paper. The chart paper needs:
Task: Each group will focus on one of Canada's Fisheries: the Pacific Fishery, the Great Lakes / Lake Winnipeg Fishery, and the Atlantic Fishery. Each group will receive a handout that explains the fishery that they are assigned to. Using highlighters, the group will highlight information that they think is important. HINT: think about the 5 W's: Who, what, where, when, why! The class will complete the graphic organizer using the information they have highlighted. The group will then neatly write this information on chart paper. The chart paper needs:
- to be neat and organized
- to have a title
- to show group members names
- to show a brief summary of the fishery that the group was assigned to