Fish stocks were dangerously low in the Grand Banks off Newfoundland. An international organization stepped in and set fishing quotas. In 1995 a crisis erupted when Spanish trawlers, which refused to comply with the quotas, confronted the Canadian Coast Guard.
HISTORICAL CONTEXTMany people earn their living from natural resources and fishermen are one example. Fishing has been a recognized economic activity for thousands of years. In Canada, fishermen have cast their nets in the
Grand Banks since the 16th century. Over the past few decades, however,
overfishing has caused problems that have resulted in thousands of fishermen being forced out of work.
SUMMARYA crisis broke out between Spain and Canada in March 1995, when the
European Union (EU) decided to disregard the fishing
quotas on
black halibut set by the
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). A fleet of trawlers, primarily Spanish, cast their nets in the
Grand Banks in the zone just beyond the 200
nautical-mile limit. Canada, through its Minister of Fisheries, Brian Tobin, announced that the Spaniards and the European Union had to abide by the decisions of NAFO, and that Canada would take all necessary measures to prevent
overfishing. Tensions grew when the Spanish trawlers refused to leave the fishing zone. Canada, under the provisions of a Canadian law authorizing the country to intervene outside the 200 nautical-mile zone, deployed the
Canadian Coast Guard to
board and inspect a Spanish ship, the Estai. The European Union argued that the inspection of the Estai was a violation of international rights, and threatened to launch a
trade war Spain sent a warship to protect its fishermen, accusing Canada of
piracy In the end, the conflict was settled when Canada agreed to renegotiate the quotas set by NAFO.
ConceptsGrand BanksZone with a high fish population, located Southeast of Newfoundland, and part of which lies beyond the
200 nautical-mile limit. This zone has long been subjected to
overfishing, a problem that organizations such as the
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) have attempted to resolve.
OverfishingOverfishing occurs when the number of fish caught is higher than the net production of the population, leading to reduced stocks and the near extinction of certain species.
Black halibutThe media called it the Cod War, but there is no cod in the
Grand Banks. Cod is found only off the coasts of Europe. The fish in question in this conflict was actually a Greenland halibut, also known as black turbot or black halibut.
BoardingAct of stopping and boarding a vessel to conduct an interrogation or a tour.
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)Civilian organization of the federal government, whose tasks are, among others, to maintain naval trade and security, protect the naval environment, and monitor Canada's coastal borders.
European Union (EU)Organization of 15 European States belonging to a
confederation. These States delegate a portion of their
sovereignty so that the EU may defend the interests of the Union as a whole on issues of mutual interest.
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)Organization created by a 1978 treaty, which, at the time, brought together 15 States and the European Union. Its mission includes the prevention of
overfishing by setting fishing
quotas.
QuotaThe share of fish that each country is allowed to catch.
The 200 nautical-mile limitCoastal zone over which a given country exercises its
sovereignty. The zone was once a limit of 16 miles, but that changed in 1977 when Canada succeeded in having it extended to 200 miles. Beyond that zone, international law applies.
PiracyAct consisting in attacking a vessel to seize its cargo. Acts of piracy have been on the rise since the early 1990s in certain parts of the world, such as Asia.
Trade warMeasures taken against another State to restrict access to its market and thus complicate commercial exchange. For example, a State might impose exorbitant tariffs, take legal action, or lengthen bureaucratic and administrative procedures (red tape).
ConfederationUnion of several States that are associated while preserving their
sovereignty.
SovereigntyAbility of a State to pass laws and manage its territory without being subjected to orders from another State.
