Market Access and Fish and Seafood Sustainability: A Fisheries and Oceans Canada Perspective

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1 Market Access and Fish and Seafood Sustainability: A Fisheries and Oceans Canada Perspective Ms. Nadia Bouffard Director General, External Relations Fisheries and Oceans Canada Conference Board of Canada Food Summit Toronto, Ontario March,

2 Canada s Fish and Seafood Sector - Overview The seafood industry is integral to the economic and social fabric of Canada The fish and seafood sector is very important to any Canadian food strategy Sector generates revenues of $3.0B for wild-capture fisheries and aquaculture Fish processing contributes $4.4B in revenues Canada exports around 85% of its fish and and seafood products to 123 countries Provides close to 85,000 jobs in the fisheries sector, including harvesting, processing and aquaculture 2

3 Sustainability Key to a Vital Sector Sustainable resource use is essential for longterm economic prosperity in the industry The industry depends on healthy fish stocks and aquatic ecosystems - achieve a balance between removals and maintenance of productivity. Agencies can manage removal extraction but not changing ocean conditions which may have a large influence on fish production and distribution. Depleted stocks lead to reductions in harvest levels, forgone revenue, lower landed value, fisheries closures, fishers going out of business. Increasingly markets require evidence such as certification - that seafood products come from sustainable fisheries/ aquaculture operations. 3

4 DFO Fisheries Management Support A fishery management regime that supports sustainability and international competitiveness Science-Based Decision Making world renowned scientific and research experts, providing best available and transparent advice on status of fish stocks and ecosystems health Ecosystems impacts managed through Sustainable Fisheries Framework, and - gear restrictions - area and time closure -bycatch measures The Fishery Checklist to assess progress, identify areas for improvement,and report on performance Monitoring, Control, Enforcement and Compliance 4

5 Efforts to Promote Sustainability Internationally Canada also plays an important role in ensuring the sustainability of international fish stocks Canada plays a key role in addressing high-seas overfishing and supports international cooperation to prevent IUU fishing Canada supports international efforts to implement ecosystem approaches to fisheries management and protection of marine biodiversity Canada is a party to several key international legal frameworks and supports implementation of several voluntary instruments agreements related to fisheries and oceans resources (e.g. UNCLOS, UNFA, FAO Code of Conduct, UN General Assembly Resolutions, CBD, CITES) Canada is a member or cooperating non-member of several regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs: e.g. NAFO, ICCAT, IATTC) 5

6 Chapter 3 Sustainable Aquaculture Canada is a leader in sustainable aquaculture Globally, Canada ranks 22nd in value with production value around $1 billion We are the world s 4th largest farmedsalmon producer, but also farm 57 other species (mussels, clams, oysters, trout). Keys to sustainability include regulation, scientific research, strategic planning, innovation and support for third party certification. 6

7 International Efforts Canada takes an active role in developing international tools for sustainable aquaculture In the development of the FAO Technical Guidelines for Aquaculture Certification With ISO in the development of international aquaculture standards With the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Aquaculture With the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Association to ensure the protection of wild Atlantic salmon 7

8 Market Access: Canada s Ambitious Trade Agenda Trade Agreements such as CETA, Canada-S. Korea and the TPP represent significant opportunities: Canada exports over 80% of fish and seafood production industry very supportive, dependant on open markets. DFO plays a key role by providing subject matter expertise, undertaking an important liaison function with provinces, industry, and ensuring the interests of sector are reflected at the bargaining table. New free trade agreements are beginning to include provisions on cooperation and fisheries sustainability (CETA, TPP), highlighting new emphasis on the environment. Key FTA negotiations for Canada s Fish and Seafood Sector CETA Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Canada-South Korea FTA (CKFTA) Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (CJEPA) 8

9 Fisheries Management Where does Canada stand? Numerous studies have ranked Canadian management regime in the top 10 Currently 23 wild capture fisheries have received MSC certification attesting to their sustainability In aquaculture, most salmon farming operations have been certified as sustainable Shellfish farming operations have just begun to be certified as sustainable. 9

10 Conclusion What is up next? Challenges for developing countries in meeting sustainability standards market and trade implications North-South dynamics What about the social standards? Will this be the next chapter in sustainability scrutiny Heightened attention and accountability on management of world marine resources Methods of harvest, storage, transportation, etc. Benefits to coastal communities Labour standards 10

11 Conclusion Lessons Learned Canada has a strong fisheries management regime But the environment is not static Should not assume all knowledge is available Heightened attention and accountability on management of world marine resources Important to communicate: What we are doing What we know and don t know What we can and can t control 11