According to OFI researcher, Aaron MacNeil, Canadian fisheries operate with little formal input from fishers and other stakeholders. But social and cultural factors that affect how and why people fish directly impact sustainability.
“My experience speaking with fishers here in Nova Scotia has been remarkably similar to those in places like Australia or Kenya,” says Dr. MacNeil. “It is incredible how consistent fishers are in terms of how they see themselves and the strong sense of identity they have with their work. Unfortunately, most fishers are also facing similar threats to their livelihoods from pollution, overfishing, and climate change.
"By studying how others have dealt with these problems, we can develop a range of strategies for Canadian fishers and policy makers to help confront these problems in the future.”
Dr. MacNeil is aiming to develop a new approach to fisheries management for Canada that incorporates social and economic factors and considers the needs of the fishers balanced with the total catch.
