Conservation, Monitoring, and Stewardship
Mitigating impacts within the marine ecosystems and for Species At Risk- On-demand gear for local lobster and crab harvesters
TWA provided a forum to bring together Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), community members, and local fisherpeople to learn and gain experience for the CanFish Gear Lending program. This also allowed for recommendations and feedback from the local harvesters to be incorporated to improve current on-demand gear and determine which system would work best.
This program is not to replace all of the traps of a rig; it is only used when there is a closure to fisheries due to the presence of whales. Harvesters who have traps set in a closure zone could use on-demand gear and remain in the area- instead of moving their gear out of the closure zones.
CanFish Lending program lead by CWF - works directly with fish harvesters to improve on-demand gear and provide evidence of what will or will not work for their industry.
On-demand gear mitigates impacts on the aquatic species and ecosystems (seagrasses), including mammals as whales, seals, and dolphins. On-demand gear reduces the amount of ropes within the water column and on the sea bottom.
TWA recognizes that the local harvesters within the Tabusintac watershed and Muncilpality of Alnwick have created and implemented many conservation initiatives and encouraged stewardship over the centuries along with Indigenous and Traditional knowledge. These agreements are called "Gentlemen's Agreement".
On-demand gear is a tool- it is not intended to be used for the full duration of harvesting (unless there is a closure for that zone) or replace existing gear.
Please visit the CWF website for more information on the CanFish Gear Lending program at the link below or feel to reach out TWA!