High Seas Trawling

Here in Canada, we have long considered George Bush to be behind the times in environmental issues. After all, the man doesn’t believe in Global Warming. Occasionally though, he does make a good environmental choice. This fall he has agreed to support a trawling ban which will be discussed at the United Nations in New York. It is well known that dragging nets along the bottom of the ocean damages ecosystems. George Bush joins Autralia, Britain, New Zealand, Norway and Brazil in opposing trawling. I am pleased that Bush is speaking out against something ecologically unsound. Unfortunately, my own Prime Minister is opposing the ban. It is incredibly frustrating to have a government that is even less environmentally responsible than the United States. Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn claims that a trawling ban would be unenforceable, and would not do enough to protect the most vulnerable species. While that may be the case, it would at least be a start. The government also explains that no type of fishing gear is harmful if it is used properly. I’m not sure if this argument is valid or not, but if it is, then the fishing gear is most certainly not being used correctly and hasn’t for years. It makes sense to ban the use of the gear to prevent its misuse. There is a more likely explanation that Ottawa didn’t offer. It is that the ban threatens big fishing business, and the Harper government is working in the interest of these companies.