This theme session will explore the ecology, assessment, and management of harvested marine species across Canada’s ocean ecosystems. It will bring together researchers and practitioners from Canada’s three oceans, with participation from academia, government agencies, the fishing industry, Indigenous communities, and non-governmental organizations.

Marine fisheries are deeply embedded in the history and culture of Canada’s coastal communities and have significant socio-economic impacts both nationally and globally. Canadian fisheries are highly diverse, ranging from small-scale subsistence operations to large-scale industrial enterprises. Some fisheries have thrived for centuries in highly productive ecosystems, while others are emerging or have experienced collapse. Marine fisheries in Canada are now navigating a complex suite of challenges—including climate change, resource development, and the expansion of protected areas— that are reshaping traditional practices and calling for innovative solutions.

Canada’s marine fisheries science community has played a foundational role in the development of aquatic sciences, including the establishment of the Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research in 1948. The Society of Canadian Aquatic Sciences (SCAS) annual conference continues this legacy, serving as a central venue for knowledge exchange within the Canadian aquatic sciences community.

This session aims to honor these historical roots while fostering continued collaboration between marine fisheries and aquatic sciences researchers. As the second annual Marine Fisheries session at SCAS, we believe its establishment provides a vital platform for Canadian marine scientists to reconnect, build new collaborations, and contribute to the SCAS conference’s role as a central hub—or “clearing house”—for marine fisheries science in Canada.

Chaired by:
David Keith¹, Stephanie Boudreau¹

¹ Fisheries and Oceans Canada Maritimes Region

Corresponding chair: David Keith, David.Keith@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Submission period: