High diesel prices for trawlers not enough to protect “idiotfish”

By: David Suzuki Foundation


VANCOUVER – High fuel prices have kept bottom-trawl boats from fishing the longspine thornyhead off Canada’s Pacific coast this year, but the federal government must still impose an immediate interim closure of the fishery to ensure the “idiotfish” and its sensitive habitat are protected, according to the David Suzuki Foundation.

“This is the most unsustainable fishery in Canada’s Pacific waters under any scientific criteria. It targets a species at risk, and takes place in sensitive deep-water habitats,” said David Suzuki Foundation senior conservation specialist Bill Wareham. “This fishery is akin to a mining operation for precious metals, scouring miles of precious habitat for little fleshy nuggets.”

The Foundation wants the fishery closed until Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implements a management plan to rebuild the population and protect its habitat, and develops a transparent public-advisory process to oversee the fishery. Although high fuel prices combined with market factors have led to a curtailment of this fuel-intensive fishery, government regulation is needed to ensure the longspine thornyhead – referred to by industry as “idiotfish” – and its sensitive habitat are protected from bottom trawling.

“It took crude-oil prices of $125 a barrel to change fishing practices. Given that DFO’s own scientific-review process has clearly identified concerns with the fishery, it makes you question why the fisheries-management system hasn’t been changed to date,” Mr. Wareham said.

The David Suzuki Foundation asked the DFO in March for an interim coast-wide bottom-trawl closure in all waters deeper than 600 metres, but attempts to deal directly with government and industry on reforming the fishery have not resulted in any progress.

In August 2007, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) officially listed the longspine thornyhead as special concern. Later this year the federal government will decide whether to legally list it under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.

The bottom-trawl fishery in Pacific waters has made tremendous progress over the last decade to become more sustainable. However, the deep-sea component of this fishery remains as one of the most destructive in Canada.

“This diesel-based fishery closure is an opportune time for conservation groups and industry to work together to come up with an ecosystem-based management plan,” Mr. Wareham said.

For more information:

Bill Wareham, Senior Conservation Specialist, Marine and Freshwater Conservation Program, (604) 740-4318, (604) 732-4228

Lisa Hoffe, Communications Specialist, Marine and Freshwater Conservation Program, (604) 732-4228 ext. 278

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Oceans/Sust_fisheries/Trawling/Thornyhead/

More Information on the Longspine Thornyhead

• Population has declined over 50 per cent in only eight years of the fishery.
• Longspine thornyhead habitat has virtually no oxygen, little food supply, no sunlight, and extreme water pressure.
• The fish likely eats only once every four to six months.
• Current total allowable catch is 425 tonnes.
• This high-value fish is mostly exported to Japan.
• Designation of “special concern” by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in August 2007.
• Being considered for legal listing under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA).
• Bottom trawlers drag weighted nets along the bottom at average depths of 850 metres .
• Average bottom trawl tow takes seven hours and drags over 30 kilometres of deep seafloor habitat.
• Since 1996, there have been 15,000 tows for longspine thornyheads in B.C. waters.
• About 7,200 square kilometres of previously untrawled deepwater habitat has been trawled in just 10 years.
• Trawling is fuel-intensive and alters large tracts of seafloor habitat.
• High levels of other vulnerable deep-sea species are discarded.
• No steps have been made to manage this fishery differently.
• Longspine thornyheads are referred to as “idiotfish” by the fishing industry for their large bulbous eyes.

Websites:
David Suzuki Foundation:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Oceans/Sust_fisheries/Trawling/Thornyhead/

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_sebastolobus_altivelis_e.pdf

source: David Suzuki Foundation