Our Atlantic coastal ecosystems are some of the most diversified and productive in the world. They provide essential habitat for a variety of fish species. Coastal ecosystems are necessary for their survival and must be protected. But protection is not the only thing we must consider if we want our grandchildren to be able to eat fish.
Fish are a renewable natural resource.
Unlike coal and oil, renewable natural resources are always replenishing themselves. But if we are not careful and destroy the habitat and take too much, the fish will not survive. To make sure we always have a source of fish, we must carefully manage how many fish we take. There are a variety of methods used to manage fisheries, such as setting regulations on how to fish, when to take the fish, and limits on how much to take. Protecting coastal ecosystems and following fisheries regulations is practising good conservation.