| Summary: | Canadian fisheries are in crisis. On both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, stories abound
of fisheries closures or failures and coastal communities in difficulty. A new approach to
fisheries policy is required, one which recognises the intrinsic value of all participants in the
fisheries ecosystem and is capable of providing guidance on how to make policy decisions. The
principles of environmental ethics provide a framework for developing justice-based fisheries
policies.
The environmental ethics literature is first explored, with special attention to fisheries
issues. From this review, a justice-based framework is identified, in which five types of justice
are viewed as pertinent to fisheries concerns. This framework is then translated into an
assessment tool, based upon the Rapfish method for rapid appraisal of fisheries and using a set
of justice-based ethical criteria. These criteria are evaluated and, through a paired comparison
survey, further explored. An assessment of a range of Canadian marine fisheries is conducted
using these ethical criteria. Subsequently, a modified Rapfish assessment, using the original
criteria supplemented with additional customised criteria, is conducted for Aboriginal fisheries
for Pacific salmon in British Columbia. Additionally, a study is conducted which explores
preferences regarding the abundance and diversity of fisheries ecosystems.
Finally, the commercial fishery for Pacific salmon in British Columbia is presented as a
case study. The Rapfish assessment results are presented, and considerations as to how to
operationalise just policies for this fishery are suggested. Recommendations include: balancing
the composition of the commercial fleet, based upon ecological impacts of the various gear
types; encouragement of local stewardship and community involvement; and inclusion of
various forms of knowledge in fisheries management and decision-making. === Science, Faculty of === Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for === Graduate
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