The Community-Based Management of Fisheries in Atlantic Canada: A Legislative Proposal

The crises in Canada's fisheries demonstrate the failure of Canadian fisheries management practices to achieve their public policy objectives. The author proposes that a new fisheries management regime, based on principles of community-based management, should be implemented to better ensure the sustainability of both the fisheries and fishing communities. A draft bill is provided to establish a specific framework around which to discuss those values and interests that should be promoted and protected by legislation, and how legislation can be used to establish and nurture a new community-based management regime.