St. John’s – The Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC), the industry association representing the year-round harvesting sector in Atlantic Canada, is congratulating the Canadian Center for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) and its partners for a successful and productive conference on the future of cod in Newfoundland and Labrador. The conference wrapped up in Gander on Wednesday, featuring an overview of the science of the Northern Cod stock, followed by expertise on world markets, including harvesting, processing and marketing perspectives.
The cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador is at a critical juncture and the message of the conference was loud and clear: while cod is rebounding, science indicates a sustainable commercial cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador is at least a decade away.
“Presenter after presenter told the room ‘the world is watching’,” explains Blaine Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Choice International. “Now more than ever, we need collaboration and consensus on the path forward for the industry. We need the discipline to follow science, the patience to get it right.”
“CCFI is in a good position to bring the industry together to achieve that,” Sullivan added.
Presenters also had clear advice on how the global industry has changed since 1992 and identified where Newfoundland and Labrador must adapt. For Alberto Wareham, President & CEO of Icewater Seafoods in Arnold’s Cove, this advice echoed what he sees daily as the only world renown cod processor in the province competing in premium EU markets.
“Every expert who presented talked about the need for a quality product and consistent supply,” Wareham explains. “We’ve seen improvements in quality from the inshore fishery over the past few years and we need that trend to continue. The higher-paying international markets for cod expect high quality cod, and they expect to receive it as a year-round supply.”
With less than 2 per cent of the worlds’ North Atlantic Cod supply, success will be defined by the ability of the fishery to match harvest and production with premium markets’ demand for a high quality, sustainability harvested product. Experts warned that Newfoundland and Labrador cannot compete on volume and must rely on alternate approaches to foster a prosperous future. This reality will require a future fishery that is based on caution, science and cooperation.
“GEAC reaffirms our commitment to the go-slow approach and focusing on sustainability”, emphasized Kris Vascotto, GEAC’s Executive Director. “The world is indeed watching and will judge us by our future actions with this sensitive natural resource.”
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Sarah Fleming,
Director of Communications, Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council
709.725.5830 I sarah@covepublicaffairs.ca
About GEAC
The Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council is a non-profit industry association representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. GEAC contributes to research that will improve the sustainability and management of groundfish fisheries by actively supporting science, sustainability certifications and responsible management.
GEAC is a leader in Atlantic Canada with 3 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certifications and 7 Fisheries Improvement Projects. GEAC and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) are co-sponsors of a Fisheries Improvement Project for Northern Cod, which includes a multi-million-dollar research program aimed at sustaining the recovery of the Northern Cod stock complex. The program includes cutting-edge genetic study focusing on discriminating stock components, population simulation models and an extensive offshore acoustic tracking program needed to understand temporal and spatial migration patterns of different stock segments.
About Icewater Seafoods
Icewater Seafoods is a family-owned, vertically integrated business operating in Arnold’s Cove, focused exclusively on selling cod globally. As the only world-class cod processing plant in North America, Icewater is focused on producing premium quality products for the European and North American markets. Icewater Seafoods has been in operation in Arnold’s Cove since 2004 and President, Alberto Wareham, is the 7th generation Wareham in the groundfish business.
About Ocean Choice International
Ocean Choice International, a 100% family owned and operated NL company, is one of Canada’s leading vertically integrated seafood harvesting, processing and marketing companies with operations throughout Atlantic Canada and sales and marketing offices around the world. OCI employs approximately 1,800 people annually, including those from more than 300 communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. For further information visit www.oceanchoice.com.