Answer the following questions on the east coast cod problem
1. Look at figure 5-19. What kinds of questions does this graph help us answer? What questions does it raise?
2. The graph can be divided logically into three time periods. Identify these time periods and explain why you chose them.
3. a) How much cod was caught in the peak year? What year was that?
b) What evidence is there that this catch was at an unsustainable level?
c) Why didn’t Canada reduce this catch, either by foreign or Canadian boats?
4. a) What happened to the cod catch in the years after the 200 nautical mile limit came into effect? Look at the foreign and Canadian catches separately.
b) What evidence is there that the catch limit in these years was too high?
c) In your opinion, did the Canadian government use the power given to it with the 200 nautical mile limit in the manner intended?
d) Scientists originally thought that the cod population would recover in 7 to 10 years. How have cod stocks responded since the closure of the cod fishery in 1992?
e) Is the East Coast cod fishery a renewable resource? Explain your reasoning.
5. What impact did the halt to cod fishing in 1992 have on the lives of East Coast fishers?
6. Several groups were involved in the
destruction of the East Coast cod fishery. In no particular order, these were
The foreign offshore fishing fleet
The Canadian offshore fleet
The Canadian inshore fishing fleet
Marine scientists who monitored fish stocks and made recommendations based on the principles of sustainable yield management.
1. The graph helps us answer questions about the trends in the cod catch over a period of time. It also raises questions about why the catch levels were unsustainable and what actions could have been taken to prevent the decline in cod stocks.
2. The three time periods identified in the graph are:
- Period 1: Pre-1977, when the catch levels were relatively stable and sustainable.
- Period 2: 1977-1992, when the cod catch peaked and started declining rapidly.
- Period 3: Post-1992, when the cod fishery was closed due to depletion of stocks.
3.
a) The peak year for cod catch was 1968, with over 800,000 metric tons caught.
b) The evidence that this catch was unsustainable is the rapid decline in cod stocks in the following years.
c) Canada did not reduce the catch because of economic and political pressures to maintain high catch levels.
4.
a) After the 200 nautical mile limit came into effect, both the foreign and Canadian cod catches drastically declined.
b) The evidence that the catch limit was too high is the failure of cod stocks to recover even after the fishery closure.
c) The Canadian government did not effectively manage the cod fishery after the 200 nautical mile limit was imposed.
d) Cod stocks have not recovered significantly since the closure of the fishery in 1992.
e) The East Coast cod fishery is not currently a renewable resource due to the inability of cod stocks to recover.
5. The halt to cod fishing in 1992 had a significant negative impact on the lives of East Coast fishers, as many lost their livelihoods and communities suffered economic hardships.
6. All of the listed groups were involved in the destruction of the East Coast cod fishery. The foreign offshore fleet and Canadian offshore fleet overfished the cod stocks, while the Canadian inshore fishing fleet also contributed to the decline. Marine scientists warned about the decline in cod stocks but their recommendations were not effectively implemented.