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Mapping and analysis inform innovative conservation measures for theCanadian Pacific groundfish trawl fisheryKarin Bodtker 1 , Carrie Robb 1 & Scott Wallace 21 Living Oceans Society, #1405 – 207 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6B 1H7, Canadakbodtker@livingoceans.org, crobb@livingoceans.org2 David Suzuki Foundation, #219 – 2211 West 4 th Ave., Vancouver, B.C., V6K 4S2, Canadaswallace@davidsuzuki.orgAbstractInnovative conservation measures were added to the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Groundfish inCanada’s Pacific Region in April 2012. The measures, which include a bycatch limit for coral and sponge, evolvedfrom three years of discussion between the groundfish trawl industry and two conservation organisations. Mappingand analysis work provided crucial support and was undertaken collaboratively by the conservation organizationsand the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Overall, the collaboration aimed to reduce bottom trawl impacts onsensitive habitats, deepwater slow growing species, and to improve the sustainability rating of the fishery. We useddata on historical bottom trawl locations, coral and sponge bycatch frequency and location, and a comprehensivemap of benthic classes to delineate a trawl footprint that would limit impact to 50% or less of each benthic class anddetermine areas within the footprint that present a high risk for coral and sponge bycatch or were untrawled since1996.IntroductionFor decades, environmentalists in British Columbia, Canada, clashed with the groundfish bottom trawl fishing industryover issues including bycatch of corals and sponges and gear impacts on benthic habitat, including deepwaterlow energy zones.Approximately 40,000 km 2 of the Canadian Pacific Ocean bottom was trawled between 1996 and 2011, includingportions of the continental shelf and slope down to almost 1400 m deep (see Sinclair et al., 2007 for methodology).Despite 100% observer coverage, area-based closures to protect hexactinellid sponge reefs implemented in 2002,and some excellent species and catch management, there were virtually no habitat rules in the entire area. Environmentalgroups produced reports calling on the government to implement a variety of measures to address habitatconcerns (Ardron, 2005; Wallace, 2007; Fuller et al., 2008; Driscoll et al., 2009), but the influence of these reportswas minimal. Recommended measures included freezing the trawl footprint to ensure previously untrawled areaswould not be impacted by trawl gear in the future and closing specific areas to the fishery to avoid bycatch of coralsand sponges and significantly reduce bottom trawling in deepwater habitats. An increase in market demand for sustainablycaught seafood provided an incentive for environmental groups and industry to work together.Most of the products of the B. C. trawl fishery are sold to markets and major retailers on the west coast of NorthAmerica. Over recent years, most of these markets have committed to sustainable seafood procurement policies,either internally or in partnership with nongovernmental organisations through sustainable seafood programs likeSeaChoice and Seafood Watch. These programs undertake science-based seafood assessments that rank fisheriesand products for sustainability into three categories; green (best choice), yellow (some concerns), or red (avoid).Several of the products from the B. C. bottom trawl fishery are ranked red due to an absence of habitat managementin the fishery. As a result of their red ranking, some of the products from the B. C. trawl fishery would be phased outof procurement by some retailers in the coming years. This provided an incentive to industry to improve its sustainabilityrating.Discussions began with the development of mutually agreed upon criteria to move forward with addressing habitatconservation concerns. Both groups wanted to work within the existing fisheries management system, did notwant to see huge costs incurred by the fishing fleet, and did not want to put anyone out of business. Everyone agreedto work toward mutually beneficial solutions. This paper focuses on the GIS data and techniques used to help developthose solutions.191