Course:ECON372/OK2019WT2/Topic13
Marine Resources
Group #1
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 0 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 0 | |
| Summary (20) | 0 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | 0 | |
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 0 | |
| Total | 0 |
Group #2
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 0 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 0 | |
| Summary (20) | 0 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | ||
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 0 | |
| Total | 0 |
Group #3
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-fishing-licence-sales-increase-1.5092100
Summary:
Recently, fishing in Manitoba lakes becomes more popular in the decade. The fishing license have been sold from 169,000 in 2008 to 195,000 in 2018, which sold jump by over 13%. There are several divers that people are getting into Manitoba fishing. According to CBC New, “The growing popularity of ice fishing, the promotion and accessibility of urban angling, targeted marketing, and the growing appetite for niche regional fishing content online have all been important factors since a slump in license sales in the 1990s, says a Winnipeg-based national fishing pro” (CBC, 2019). Also, Red River’s is well-known as one of producing massive channel catfish which is attractive over the fishing world. However, some anglers may not share the information how and where to catch a monster fish. In Manitoba, there are different number of community groups on Facebook related to fishing cultures, such as selling used fishing gear. Travel Manitoba, which has received $12 million revenue from tourism, became a Crown corporate and has managed the fishing industry in Manitoba. Travel Manitoba shared the study of changing temperaments and appetites of anglers online to public, sponsored video on YouTube to promote Manitoba fishing and provide digital registration for becoming a master angler. Manitoba has experienced the increasing travelers from national and international countries which drives up sale in fishing licenses and increases the fishing activities in Lake Winnipeg. As a result, the Lake Winnipeg is facing the sharply increasing rate of fishing activity which would impact the sustainability of fisheries. The province offered a buyback option which fishers can sell off their individual catch limits to the province. Moreover, the province had considered increasing the net mesh sizes to protect fry from harvesting and be able to grow. The changes in minimum length of fish anglers can keep is also considered. Commercial fishers harvesting on fish is 20 times the amount of non-commercial anglers, but the economy of non-commercial anglers is 3 to 6 six times higher than commercial fishery. Finally, people believe that Lake Winnipeg’s fishery extremely need a new management system and science-based monitoring program to maintain the sustainable on fishing industry.
Analysis:
Governments can improve existing regulations to develop sustainable fisheries and establish precautionary approach to safeguard marine resources. Marine resource is an open-access that everyone can access and harvest the resources with their own needs. The problem with open-access is that fisherman may attempt to maximum his own net benefit and ignore the social net benefit. Hence, every fisher makes their effort to harvest fishing as much as possible which would result an unsustainable fisheries and reduce the net benefit for future generate. Therefore, regulation on fisheries is important to maintain the sustainability of fisheries. In Manitoba, the province has a good fisheries management system; however, the system has been used for long time and need some changes in the regulation. Commercial fishers harvesting makes up to most of harvesting amount in Manitoba and remain with rapidly grow in tourism fishing. The province should now take steps to prevent overfishing. To maintain the sustainability of fisheries, the province may have to consider reducing the individual transferable quotas. Although the reduced quotas would hurt fisherman in Manitoba, fishermen can work with local governments to develop tourism, such as tourist guides and fishing trips. On the other hand, province may have to release new regulation with different circumstance of marine resource. In Manitoba, people can keep the minimum length for the fish. People are willing to catch and able to keep the huge fishes. The province may consider enacting a new regulation on a range of keeping fishes, a huge fish takes a lot of time to grow and are relatively rare. In order to ensure the ecological balance of the lake, it is necessary to protect the huge fishes from excessive harvest. Moreover, huge fish provide reproduce lots of fry comparing to others. In conclusion, Manitoba should consider make some changes on the fishing management system to be able maintain and provide better fish resource for future generation.
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 10 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 10 | |
| Summary (20) | 15 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | 47 | |
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 7 | |
| Total | 89 |
Group #4
https://globalnews.ca/news/6299545/bc-clearcutting-forests-climate-change/
Summary:
Clear cutting in the forest industry have contributed climate change more than fossil fuels. There have been reports of dead zones that do have any regrowth despite the fact that it has been over 13 years since the initial clear cut. In the provincial data, the report have found that logging in B.C. contributes 42 million tonnes of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. In addition to the 26 million tonnes of carbon per year that cannot be captured because of clear cutting. This level of emission is beyond the level of fossil fuels emissions.
According to Sierra Club BC, the province does not include forest carbon emissions in its official greenhouse gas inventories which is a practice that needs to be changed. There has been calls from experts to stop the practice of clear cutting completely, especially around those areas that are old-growth forests. Since these old growth trees are the best defense against carbon emissions due to their great capacity for capturing the gas, cutting around 1.9 million hectares would have even more detrimental consequences.
The ministry of environment did not push back against Sierra Club's claims but did note that they do in fact record emissions from the forestry operations, it's just not applied to the province's emission totals. In addition, Susan Yurkovich, the president and CEO of BC Council of Forest Industries pointed out the fact that they only harvest less than one percent of the working forest land base each year and three trees are planted for every one harvested. The buildings and products that are created using the forested material also store carbon dioxide which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Analysis
This article is very relevant to last class's top on forestry but also to the overall arching theme on sustainability. Forestry is one of those industries that have a marginal user cost, by using more in the present day, we are reducing the potential to use it in the future. However unlike oil and gas it is in a way sustainable and renewable because there is an ability to always replant those trees. As mentioned in the article, they replant 3 trees for every tree cut. However, there needs to be a consideration on the speed of which these trees grow as well as age of the tree that is being cut. If it is true that 1.9 hectares of trees cut are old growth trees, then the 3 trees that are being used to replace a single of them is no where near enough. It could be even argued that these trees are irreplaceable.
The Council of Forest industry's response to the criticism is not a great one. Not only do replanting the trees not fully justify their actions to clear cut certain areas, they brought up the “We have more forested areas certified to internationally recognized sustainability standards than any other jurisdiction in the world" defense. This line of argument is not a valid statement, just because we as Canadians have the best sustainability standards does not mean that we aren't liable to faults. If the rest of the world has an unsustainable model or standard, then by saying that we have the best doesn't really say much on whether it actually is sustainable or not.
One of the issues with not properly reporting emissions is that it not only under reports actual damages done to the environment but this also indicates that the cost benefit analysis for the forestry industry is wrong. The damages caused by the clear cut may outweigh the potential fixes as well as the carbons that are supposedly reduced by the buildings and products. Another area of the external costs that is not fully highlighted is the damages to the soil and removal of a habitat. The damages done by clear cuts is astronomical and it contributes greatly to carbon emissions. The attention should not solely be on the oil and gas industries but also on the forestry industry as well. Only by properly regulating both industries can we actually move towards the goal of reducing emissions.
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 10 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 0 | This is the marine resources chapter, not forestry. |
| Summary (20) | 20 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | 25 | Unrelated to this chapter on marine resources. You do talk about externalities, but not about the main issue in the forestry chapter, which is the optimal rotation interval, and how that depends on various factors like the cost of harvest, which would include the environmental externalities associated with removing the forest. |
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 8 | |
| Total | 63 |
Group #5
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/canada-mandatory-gear-marking-2020-fishing-industry-1.5422962
Summary:
Early this year, Canada issued a notice to fishers by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) that introduced a mandatory and specially decorated interweaved fishing rope to be used at the beginning of the season by fisheries in Eastern Canada. The rope must contain details such as the country, the fish species being fished, and fisherman fishing location. The move is aimed at protecting the endangered right whale species, and make it more efficient to track the gear. Also, the need for introducing the rule is to gain access to the United States seafood market by ensuring compliance with the regulations similar to those found in the southern border.
The United States Marine Mammal Protection Act was introduced as a result of several right whales dying in the Gulf of St.Lawrence due to too lenient fishing regulations in Canada. The policy mandated the protection of marine mammals, failure to adhere to the rules could lead to a a ban on Canadian seafood. The mandatory gear marking has already been implemented by fisheries at Gulf of St.Lawrence. As the seasons begin in April, it is approximated about 150 Lobster Fishermen will be the first to be affected by the mandatory rule.
Approximately one hundred and fifty lobster fishermen are expected to be among the first to be affected by extended gear marking when the new spell starts in April. It also expected that about 14 fisheries would have unique colour schemes in 2020. Also, other fish species will be assigned colour schemes. Guptill, the president of the Grand Manan Fishermen's Association suggested that Canada will be liable for any unmarked rope.
Analysis:
A significant number of fishermen in the Atlantic region of Canada are warming up to the idea of protecting the endangered species of whales commonly known as the right whales. As a result, there is an anticipation that custom colored gear ropes for fishing will become mandatory at the start of every fishing season within the crab and lobster fishery in Canada’s Eastern territory (Withers, 2020). The expectation will be that the ropes being used can be identified by their specified region, the species being targeted and the specific fishing area. In addition, the regulation aims at maintaining the access to the United States seafood market through the demonstration that Canada holds laws that are compatible to those placed for various fishing grounds across North America. These details were elaborated in a notice issued to fish harvesters by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on December 20, 2019.
It is critical to note that the new regulations are part of the Canadian government continued effort to improve the tracking of fishing gears, address unknown gears and enhance the identification of management measures that pose a threat to marine mammals particularly the right whales found in North Atlantic (Withers, 2020). These efforts are geared towards complying with the U.S Marine Mammal Protection Act that requires the imports in terms of seafood to be captured under the fishing rules that are equivalent to the existing whale protection laws that have been enacted in the United States. Simply, gear marking is mandatory in trap fisheries within the U.S. hence Canada is committed towards fulfilling this regulation in order to maintain its seafood market.
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 10 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 10 | |
| Summary (20) | 17 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | 37 | The central idea in the chapter is that there is a benefit from leaving fish in the water to grow, and a cost associated with harvesting. The impact on Right Whales is a social cost that fishers themselves have not paid. If it is not taken account of, then there is too much fishing effort. These rules bring the social cost of fishing into the calculation of the amount of harvest by the industry regulator and the fishers themselves. |
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 10 | |
| Total | 84 |
Group #6
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts-education-resources/ocean-pollution
Summary:
This article explores the sources of marine pollution. Most pollutants in the ocean come from physical activities, nutrients, and algal blooms, and marine debris. First, the natural processes and human activities of the coastline and inland affect the health of our oceans. One of the largest sources of pollution is called non-point source pollution, followed by non-point source pollution and point source pollution. These pollutions usually have a significant impact, but the probability of their occurrence is gradually decreasing. Second, certain algae can also threaten humans or marine life. Algae sink and decompose in the water. The decomposition process consumes oxygen and depletes the resources available for healthy aquatic life. If algae grow too much in the ocean, an algal bloom can occur. Finally, marine debris is the most persistent pollution problem in the sea. The sea and waterways are contaminated by a variety of marine debris, from tiny microplastics to abandoned fishing gear and abandoned boats. This garbage can harm marine wildlife and cause property damage. It will also affect the seafood we eat.
Analysis:
The characteristics of marine pollution to biological hazards are that there are many sources of pollution, strong sustainability, widespread and difficult to control. The turbidity of seawater caused by marine pollution seriously affects the photosynthesis of aquatic plants (phytoplankton and seaweed). That changes the productivity of the sea area and is also harmful to fish. Toxic substances such as heavy metals and toxic organic compounds accumulate in the sea and enriched by marine life. Toxic to marine animals and other animals that feed on them. Oil pollution forms a large area of oil film on the surface of the ocean, preventing the oxygen in the air from dissolving into the seawater. At the same time, the decomposition of petroleum also consumes dissolved oxygen in the water, causing anoxia in the seawater. Harm to marine life and harm seabirds and humans. Red tide due to aerobic organic pollution (as a result of eutrophication of seawater). That can cause a lack of oxygen in the saltwater, leading to the death of marine life. Marine pollution can also damage coastal tourism resources. Therefore, marine pollution has attracted more and more attention from the international community.
The other is the impact of microplastics on the ocean. After the plastic use, part of the plastic enters the environment due to improper collection and processing, which is broken and degraded, causing severe environmental pollution to surface water, soil, and the ocean. In recent years, microplastics have detected in the sea in many oceanic, and polar scientific investigations carried out in China. Microplastics are an environmental issue that the international community has paid close attention to in recent years. In 2016, the United Nations Environment Assembly equated marine plastic litter and microplastics issues with significant global environmental problems such as global climate change. Relevant countries and environmental organizations also issued action measures and regulations. It is necessary to increase support for social participation in garbage classification. And strengthen the recycling and resource utilization of plastic waste. Society needs to promote public engagement to transform consumption patterns. Participate in international processes to deal with marine litter and plastic pollution, and actively promote global marine litter control.
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 10 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 4 | This article is mostly environmental economics, not resource economics. |
| Summary (20) | 17 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | 20 | In relation to the model in the chapter, pollution is affecting the productivity of the resource. The growth curve is shifting in and down. Shifting in, as the carrying capacity is falling, and down as the maximum sustainable yield is reduced. It may also reduce the value of the harvest, if the quality of the fish declines. |
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 9 | |
| Total | 60 |
Group #7
Summary:
This article from January 2nd, 2020, by The Economist magazine's Finance and Economics section examines some of the difficulties of reducing overfishing that is fuelled by government subsidies. It uses recent World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, or the lack thereof, to exemplify the difficulty of controlling overfishing.
Overfishing has increased from 10% in 1974 to 33% in 2015. Although the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals - which were signed by United Nations member states in 2015 - aimed to limit government subsidies for fishing by 2020, little has been accomplished at this point. Short-term self-interest to over-consume limited marine resources currently drive the fishing industry, as well as governments that subsidize this behaviour. Annually, governments around the world spend $22 billion to subsidize fishing - some of which is estimated to "be unprofitable without government support."
Current WTO negotiations are entangled in arguments about jurisdictions for dealing with individual violators of international agreements. Beyond that, a proposed punishment for fishers, who overfish or fish illegally, is the withdrawal of government subsidies, which would limit their ability to operate in the future. However, such sanctions only work for fishers that were subsidized by governments in the first place. Another hurdle to any WTO deal on fishing is the need for special consideration of developing countries. "17 of the world's 26 most prolific fishing countries are developing ones." Allowing exceptions for developing countries might weaken any future deal.
Analysis:
This article touches on several key topics in Chapter 13 on Marine Resources - most notably on Fisheries Management - by focusing on the problem of overfishing that is caused by government subsidies. Overfishing is a tragedy of the commons, resulting in diminished stocks of marine species, in turn disrupting entire food chains and ecosystems. This practice is fuelled by open access to many marine fisheries (international waters: beyond 200 nautical miles off the coast). These unsustainable fishing practices are often fuelled by overcapitalization; that is, investment in national fishing fleets through inordinate government subsidies. These government practices demonstrate the mismanagement of fisheries at the national and global level. The article outlines the difficulties that countries face in regulating fisheries by pointing to the lack of international norms when it comes to conflicts over fishing rights. Fishing is an essential industry for many people around the world, but governments still support unsustainable fishing practices.
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 10 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 10 | |
| Summary (20) | 20 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | 30 | In the context of the model used in the chapter, subsidies reduce the total cost of fishing, and therefore encourage more fishing. This increases overuse of the resource, and the risk of collapse. |
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 10 | |
| Total | 80 |
Group #8
https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/canada-has-a-new-fisheries-act-how-does-it-stack-up/
Summary:
This article written by Holly Lake goes into detail about fisheries and the passing of Bill C-68. Bill C-68 was recently passed in June 21, 2019 and now requires Fisheries and Oceans Canada to manage fish stocks sustainably and put rebuilding plans in place for those that are depleted.This bill will increase the required amount of monitoring and reporting which will give us a better insight to how things are going and how we are able to improve it. This Bill is crucial and puts Canada at the forefront for sustainable fisheries although there is still much to improve. While Canada did have policies in order to create sustainability there was nothing entrenched in the law. She believes that although it is good that this Bill was passed, it could have saved the collapse of the northern cod fishery if it was put in place much earlier. Overall there is no country that is managing fisheries sustainably as none have met global targets of rebuilding stocks.
Analysis:
This article directly relates to chapter 13 throughout the article in many different instances. The article written by Holly Lake is about a new fisheries act and how it can contribute to making fisheries more sustainable. This relates to chapter 13 as it talks about regulations and how they are critical for marine sustainability. Regulations are put into place in order to protect the wildlife and the industry. Without regulation we would face major problems within the fishing industry and could threaten the industries future. The articles main point is talking about monitoring and replenishing fish stock. Chapter 13 goes into detail about this with regards to the adaptive approach with uncertainty. Another interesting contrast between the article and chapter 13 is in the article it talks about the new act requiring Indigenous knowledge to be incorporated into decisions and mandates a review of the act every 5 years. This relates to the marine resource chapter as it talks about the different institutions involves with the fishing industry and the agreements made with the Indigenous communities. The collapse of the Atlantic cod stock is something that is mentioned in both the article and the chapter as they both use this as a great example of what we do not what to happen in the fishing industry and to other species.
| Category | Mark | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Article Source (10) | 10 | |
| Article Relevance (10) | 10 | |
| Summary (20) | 16 | |
| Course Related Analysis (30-50) | 35 | The central idea in the chapter is that efficient management of an open access resource requires reducing effort. The law sets objectives - protecting stocks and replenishing depleted stocks - that should inform the target effort levels. As always, it is politics that determines whether or not it will occur. However, having it in the law increases the likelihood that questions will be asked if progress is not made. |
| Extended Analysis (0-20) | ||
| Presentation (10) | 10 | |
| Total | 81 |