Canada: Ecology Action Centre report shows potential returns for century-old fishery

A report by the Ecology Action Centre in Nova Scotia, Canada, outlines a strategy to revitalize the century-old commercial swordfish harpoon fleet, which has been negatively impacted by climate change. The plan includes the introduction of a new rod-and-reel gear type and the integration of charter operations. The research demonstrates that these changes could generate over $2.5 million in revenue. However, the success of these measures depends on regulatory adjustments and overcoming licensing and passenger transport requirements. The Ecology Action Centre is advocating for these changes to secure the future of this sustainable fishing industry and the economic well-being of rural coastal communities.

Ecology Action Centre report shows potential returns of over $2.5 million for century-old fishery adapting to climate change. A report from the Ecology Action Centre finds that Nova Scotia’s commercial swordfish harpoon fleet could be seeing returns of $2.5 million by adding charters as another stream of income and a new gear type to adapt to low catch rates caused in part by climate change. “Keeping a century-old fishery alive” details two years of trials of a new rod-and-reel gear type, an economic analysis of adding charter operations to the fishery, results from surveys of industry stakeholders and recommendations for regulatory changes. The Nova Scotia swordfish harpoon fleet is one of the oldest and most storied fisheries in Atlantic Canada and was once a highly successful fishery. Over the last several years, however, changing ocean conditions have made swordfish increasingly hard to find for this fleet, as the swordfish must be visible at the ocean surface to be ...