LE3 .A278 2009

2009

Lusby, Linda

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Environmental Science

Earth & Environmental Sciences

In today’s economy, the immediate gains from resource exploitation frequently take precedence over the long term environmental benefits of sustainable management. The sustainability paradigm – encompassing society, the economy and the environment - has been accepted as an essential factor in the management of natural resources and human advancement, yet global concerns are often far removed from management mechanisms applied at a more local level. The 1992 collapse of the Northern Ground fishery in Atlantic Canada is a prime example of inconsistent and fragmented uses of science in decision-making, reflecting an overly politicized fisheries management regime. This bureaucratization of science can be seen to violate scientific standards and inevitably influence management strategies that counteract any goals of sustainability. An analysis of post-moratorium management strategies as well as recent stock and science advisory reports revealed the influences of fragmented research and conflicting interests. Results illustrate inconsistent and selective use of science in policymaking with emphasis on socioeconomic rather than environmental concerns. As a result, many of the fisheries management initiatives have become mere statements that express, but do not fulfill an urgent need for sustainable-based management of natural resources. The recent recovery and managerial successes of Baltic Sea groundfish illustrates the fundamental synergies between environmental and political factors, ultimately suggesting that only such synergies between the two have resulted in a stock increase. This study along with the aforementioned analyses can provide a better understanding of the difficulties presented in managing fisheries under the sustainability paradigm within a political context.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:602