Marine Issues Committee Publications

The Marine Issues Committee Publications and prices are listed below. All publications are printed on recycled paper. For those publications that are free, donations are appreciated, or why not become a member of the Ecology Action Centre?

Position Statements:

Reports and books:

1. Distribution and Status of Deep Sea Corals off Nova Scotia by Heather Breeze. November 1997. 60 pages.

This attractive report contains the results of Heather's interviews with fishermen, fisheries observers, and scientists on corals and includes charts, pictures of corals, and a systematic list. There are also five species status sheets written by Derek Davis.(Price $10.00 plus $5.00 for postage) Part 1 & Part 2 are available here to view or download.

2. Associated Fauna of Commercial Scallop Grounds in the Lower Bay of Fundy by Susanna Fuller. April 1998. 90 pages.

This report contains a description of the different sediment types in the lower Bay of Fundy and their associated fauna including an annotated species list, a review of previous faunal work in the Bay of Fundy, and a discussion of the impact of mobile gear on benthos. (Price $10.00 plus\par $5.00 for postage). Part 1 & Part 2 of the document are available here to view or download.

3. Marine Benthic Seascapes: Fishermen's Perspectives by Susanna Fuller and Peggy Cameron. September 1998. 64 pages.

This report takes the results of interviews with fishermen in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and examines, from the fishermen's perspective, the impacts of natural changes and human activities, including fishing on the sea floor. In general, fishermen felt that the greatest threat to benthic habitat was fishing gear. Natural changes were not considered a threat and the effects of non-fishing activities were considered minimal. The most commonly suggested conservation measure for the benthic habitat was to use low impact gear. (Price $10.00 plus $5.00 for postage). Part 1 & Part 2 of the document are available here to view or download.

4. Conservation Lost at Sea, Discarding and Highgrading in the\par Scotia-Fundy Groundfishery in 1998 by Heather Breeze. November 1998. 15 pages.

This report describes the problems associated with discarding and highgrading in the Scotia-Fundy groundfishery in 1998. The reasons behind these problems, as perceived by fishermen, are discussed, e.g. who is doing it and why, where it is occurring and how much is being dumped. Changes in enforcement and the management system, were identified as possibilities to improve the situation.(Price: free, but $5.00 for postage requested. ) View or download it here.

5. Managing Our Fisheries, Managing Ourselves. Edited by Laura Loucks, Tony Charles and Mark Butler. 1998. 83 pages.

This book expands on new initiatives presented at a 1997 symposium organized by Saint Mary's University Fisheries and Coastal Seminar Series, and the Gorsebrook Research Institute. Using articles written by Canadian and international fisheries researchers and fishermen, its focus is on policy development, with emphasis on developing measures for self-regulation by fishermen, through community-based management, community quotas and controls on fishing efforts. (Price: free, but $5.00 for postage requested.)

6. Submission to the Georges Bank Review Panel Submitted by the Marine Issues Committee of the Ecology Action Centre. Written by Erin Rankin, Mark Butler and Tim Church.

The Ecology Action Centre asked the Georges Bank Review Panel to recommend extending the moratorium on Georges Bank and adjacent areas until 2012 so as to match the American moratorium. This report discusses the reasons behind why the panel should make this recommendation. (Price: free, but $5.00 for postage requested.) P.S. The moratorium has been extended.

7. Diversity and Distribution of Associated Fauna of Commercial Scallop Grounds in the Lower Bay of Fundy. By Sara Magee, Ellen Kenchington, Dale Roddick, Derek Davis, and Mark Butler. October 1999. 15 pages.

This report examines the invertebrate and urochordate fauna associated with commercial scallop beds in the lower Bay of Fundy by looking at the bycatch of the scallop fishing drags. A total of 234 tows were made and 261 species were observed including representatives of 13 phyla. (Price: $10.00 plus $5.00 for postage) . Part 1 & Part 2 of the document are available here to view or download.

8. The Decline of the Cape Breton Swordfish Fishery: An Exploration of the Past and Recommendations for the Future of Nova Scotia Fishery by Gretchen Fitzgerald. January 2000. 57 pages.

This report is the first comprehensive study of the swordfish fishery in Atlantic Canada, and covers the biology of the swordfish, the history of the fishery, conservation concerns and the rich culture of the fishery.Fisherman who have participated in this fishery were interviewed to determine how and why this fishery has changed over the last ninety years. From this information, recommendations were formulated for the future management of this fishery.(Price: $10.00 plus $5.00 postage) . Part 1 & Part 2 of the document are available here to view or download.

9. Epibiota of Scallop Beds in the Lower Bay of Fundy by Sara Magee, Ellen Kenchington, Derek Davis and Mark Butler. 100 pages.

This report expands the list of epitbiotic organisms found on scallop shells and doubles the number of described epibiotic taxa in the Digby area. This increases the number of taxa known to be associated with the commercial scallop grouds in the Lower Bay of Fundy from 261 to 303. Stages of development of epibiotic communities on living scallop shells were also observed. Depending on the epibiotic organism it can be either detrimental or advantageous to the scallop. (Price: $10.00 plus $5.00 postage). Part 1 & Part 2 of the document are available here to view or download.

10. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals. Held in Halifax, NS, July 30-August 3, 2000. Edited by J.H. Martin Willison, June Hall, Susan E. Gass, Ellen L.R. Kenchington, Mark Butler and Penny Doherty. 231 pages.

This volume contains seventeen selected papers that reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of the gathering. In addition, the entire symposium and its related conservation workshop are summarized. (Price: $20 for students, $35 for others, plus postage.)

11. Marine Biological Invasions: A Perspective on Atlantic Canada and New England (Abbreviated Proceedings of a Workshop held in Halifax, NS, May 13 -15 2001).

Compiled and edited by Anthony Chapman. 56 Pages. Includes abstracts, discussion from workshop floor following presentations, recommendations and conclusions. (Price $10.00 plus 5$ for postage). Part 1 and Part 2 of the document are available here to view or download.

12. Poster showing the impact of dragging on the ocean floor and accompanying pamphlet.

The text on the poster is as follows: WHAT ARE WE DOING TO THE OCEAN FLOOR? Life on the ocean floor is as beautiful as it is on land, yet Canada's fisheries policies do little to protect it. Draggers tow heavy gear over the bottom threatening marine biodiversity and the health of the fish stacks themselves. THERE ARE SOLUTIONS. Use less destructive gear. Restrict dragging to less sensitive habitats. Ask Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans what's happening down there. (Price: Free, but $5.00 for postage requested.

13. Ocean Zoning: Can it Work in the Northwest Atlantic? Workshop Proceedings

Edited by Penny Doherty. 2005. 115 pages. Proceedings from a workshop that was held May 10-11, 2004 in Halifax, Nova Scotia Ocean zoning is one of the tools to provide an integrated approach to the management of the open ocean, in terms of conservation needs and multiple use issues. This was the first opportunity in Canada for marine resource users, policy makers, ocean users and stakeholders with and interest in ocean zoning to exchange ideas, information and concerns regarding ocean zoning. View or download it here.

14. Ocean Zoning: Perspectives on a New Vision for the Scotian Shelf and Gulf of Maine

Edited by Penny Doherty. 2003. 26 pages. Stakeholders from the U.S. and Canadian Northwest Atlantic were interviewed to gain their perspectives on zoning the Scotian Shelf and gulf of Maine. Valuable information about how stakeholders view ocean zoning, its benefits and disadvantages, and whether it should be used as a management tool in these large offshore areas was collected. View or download it here.

15. How we fish matters: Addressing the Ecological Impacts of Canadian Fishing Gear December 15, 2008

This national study recommends that Fisheries and Oceans Canada immediately implement policies that prioritize the protection of habitat and marine life as well as provide incentives to fishermen to switch to less harmful fishing gear. This study, entitled “How We Fish Matters: Addressing the Ecological Impacts of Canadian Fishing Gear”, ranks the impacts of 13 different gear types used in Canada, from bottom trawls to lobster traps. The study, released by the Living Oceans Society, Ecology Action Centre, and Marine Conservation Biology Institute, also recommends that adequate monitoring, research and data collection on fishing gear impacts be undertaken and that proper planning and implementation of marine protected areas occur. The full document (pdf 4.7 MB) and backgrounder (pdf 2.3 MB) are available here for view or download.

16. Seafood Traceability in Canada: Traceability Systems, certification, eco-labeling and standards for achieving sustainable seafood.
2009, Anna Magera and Sadie Beaton

Seafood Traceability in Canada In today’s highly globalized world food market, keeping track of information on highly traded products can be tricky. Fish often follows a long and winding path from the ocean to the consumer. It is often shipped great distances, visits multiple ports, and changes hands among various brokers, processors and retailers before it finally reaches the consumer's plate. At the same time, the seafood industry is facing an increasing number of challenging global issues.
These include: an overall decline in seafood supply, shaky consumer confidence in seafood labeling and product safety, increasing regulatory demands by local and foreign markets, uncertainty about sustainability, environmental concerns about the aquaculture industry, and increasing questions about the health of the world's oceans. Companies today need to be able to meet their customers’ demands for quality, healthy, safe and environmentally conscious products, as well as uphold the reputation and long-term viability of their brand. Available for download here. [pdf 3.7 MB]

Marine Issues Committee

Phone: (902) 446-4840
Fax: (902) 405-3716

Are you interested in mysterious sea creatures, fishing boats and gear, tasty and sustainably caught seafood dishes, or the unique and beautiful Sable Island? Then you’ll be in good company at our monthly Marine Issues Committee (MIC) at the Ecology Action Centre on the last Tuesday of every month at 5:30.