A recent investigation has unveiled a troubling trend over the past 15 years: a surge of factory trawling vessels has infiltrated the waters off British Columbia’s coastline. These heavily subsidized industrial fishing fleets have the power to decimate the world’s marine life on an unprecedented scale. The based often upon mapping efforts that feature ecologically significant areas tied to the continental shelf’s edge. Their operations have a direct impact on the existence of numerous fish species. They directly compete with endangered killer whale populations that rely on these waters for food.
Our investigation uncovered the arrival of nine more massive factory trawlers. Shifted from European and Arctic waters to British Columbia on the other side of the continent. The final of these, the Sunderoey, at 56 meters, shows the scale of industrial, factory fishing today. Pacific Wild has tracked at least nine of these floating factories working in the area. In addition to this, they’ve located another 30-40 smaller scale “wet” trawl boats hard at work.
The ecological consequences of factory trawling are staggering. These vessels are notorious for indiscriminately catching non-target species, like rougheye rockfish—animals that can live up to 200 years old. This bycatch, typically discarded back into the ocean, raises concerns about the sustainability of local fish populations and the health of the marine ecosystem.
Impact on Killer Whale Populations
One of the most egregious consequences of factory trawling is its effect on populations of endangered killer whales. Killer whales, both the northern resident and southern resident population, feed mostly on the fish that these factory trawlers are stripping from the waters. The increased competition for food resources in these heavily trawled regions further compounds the challenges these already vulnerable species face.
“Their main dinner table is the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and that is heavily, heavily trawled,” – Lester
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is lifeblood for these whales. It serves as one of their most important feeding grounds. With current trawling practices digging into their breeding and feeding grounds, advocates are worried this could be the last generation of these majestic animals. The intensity of trawling in this region makes it even more difficult to protect and conserve the currently shrinking killer whale populations.
Investigative reports reveal how factory trawlers frequently fish in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) a violation of U.S. law. Typically, these zones have bans on harmful fishing practices. Many older established designated areas continue to allow trawling today, the legality and sustainability of these practices remains in question.
“We can’t say for sure that they were fishing in MPA areas, but the evidence strongly suggests it,” – Lester
The Controversy Surrounding Trawling Practices
The increasing power of these factory trawlers has sparked a contentious argument between environmentalists, fishermen, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Additionally, critics note that the operations of these vessels cause acute damage to the marine environment and threaten responsible and sustainable fishing operations. The investigation raises alarms over illegal fishing practices by some factory trawlers operating outside the law.
Zoe Ahnert, a fisheries science specialist, further underscored the need for context in understanding data developed around trawling activities. She states, “We urge caution in interpreting raw AIS data without context or supporting fisheries science.” All of this emphasizes the difficulty in grasping the real consequences of these factory trawlers on local ecosystems.
Others contend that this backlash against factory trawlers is misdirected. For one, they think that these vessels make less of a contribution to B.C.’s fisheries than critics claim—especially when you look at how the fishery is managed. Ahnert contends, “The characterization that a small number of trawl vessels are having an ‘outsized impact’ on B.C.’s fisheries does not reflect the reality of how this fishery is managed.”
Despite the overall enthusiasm, some voices within the fishing community are sounding the alarm on the wastefulness of factory trawling practices. McAllister points out that “it’s the most wasteful fishery that produces the fewest jobs and fewest benefits for Canadians,” underscoring concerns about economic sustainability alongside environmental impacts.
A Call for Sustainable Fishing Practices
Now that the conversation around factory trawling is growing, experts are calling for more sustainable methods of fishing. The wastefulness and indiscriminate nature of bycatch, as well as its negative impact on marine ecosystems, cannot be ignored. With factory trawlers often operating at trawling speeds over seamounts, undersea mountains crucial for supporting diverse marine life, the potential for long-term ecological damage becomes increasingly clear.
“A dead fish is a dead fish no matter which boat caught it,” – Ray Hilborn
In fact, Hilborn’s statement is a perfect distillation of the flawed thinking behind the real problem — how our fishing practices are harming marine biodiversity. As the debate continues, it remains imperative for stakeholders to work collaboratively toward sustainable fishing solutions that prioritize both ecological health and economic viability.
Lester argues that factory trawlers target critical habitats: “I don’t know why [Hilborn] missed it, but the rest of the water is over the abyssal zone, and these trawlers are hitting the most productive narrow strip that is along the B.C. coast. That’s where most of the life is.” This claim underlines the urgent need for more protective regulations to shield fragile ecosystems from continued harm.
