Canadian Code Of Conduct For Responsible Fishing Operations

This Code outlines general principles and guidelines for all commercial fishing operation that take place in Canadian water. Bearing in mind that Canada played a leading role in the development of the U.N. Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO)Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, this Canadian Code of conduct is consistent with, and in no way diminishes, the FAO code. The Code has been articulated by Canadian fish harvesters who ratified that Conservation Harvesting Plans or Fisheries Management Plans should incorporate the Code of Conduct.

The purpose of this document is to describe the Canadian experience relating to the introduction of both improved conservation harvesting technologies and fishing practices. The first two parts describe improvements in fishing technology which help to achieve size and species selectivity, catch limitation, and best use of the fishery resource. It includes information on hook-and-line gear, trawls, seines and nets, fish traps and fishwheels, and shellfish traps. The final two parts review approaches to responsible fishing, such as regulatory controls, industry co-operation and partnership, and training in responsible fishing operations, as well as case histories of projects and initiatives that illustrate successes in responsible fishing.