Year-round harvesters continue to urge DFO to adopt a more precautionary approach for Northern Cod

Recent catch levels authorized by DFO are too aggressive for this declining stock that is deep within its critical zone

St. John’s – This week, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) released its 2018 science assessment for 2J3KL cod, also known as Northern Cod. The 29% single-year decline in spawning stock biomass (SSB) is extremely concerning for this fish stock that is deep within its Critical Zone. Scientists project that the SSB will continue to decline for at least several years.

“Unfortunately, this significant decline comes only two years after DFO projected that the spawning stock biomass would double by 2019. Despite relatively low levels of younger cod, a changing environment and declining food supply (capelin and shrimp) that could slow the cod recovery, DFO implemented significant increases in catch in response to some industry groups, notably the FFAW and GIDC,” explained Kris Vascotto, GEAC’s Executive Director.

“It is distressing that some harvesters and processors made significant financial investments based on the 2016 projected growth in the cod biomass and the advocacy of groups who called for even higher catches than were approved by DFO,” Vascotto added.

Since 2015, the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) and its members have been expressing concern that the Northern Cod recovery was not assured, and that catch increases authorized by the Department were too aggressive; an approach that seemed out of step with the conservation priority of the Federal Government.

If there is a silver lining at this point, it’s that this might be a wake-up call that while we cannot control nature’s dynamics, we can control fishery removals. In 2015, reported landings of Northern Cod by commercial seasonal harvesters was about 4,400 mt. By 2017, this number had jumped by almost 300% to over 13,100 mt and clearly did not follow the trajectory of the resource. In order to realize sustainable benefits from a recovered Northern Cod stock, there is a need to practice a more precautionary approach that constrains fishing until the resource increases above its Critical Zone. “We look forward to working with the Department to achieve a better harvest strategy for the future,” emphasized Vascotto.

“There is a need to focus on the long-term, to be cautious and to go-slow in our approach towards a sustainable recovery,” said Alberto Wareham, President and CEO of Icewater Seafoods in Arnold’s Cove, NL. Icewater’s plant and its 210 employees rely solely on cod, yet the company is still encouraging a conservative approach. “The sustainability of the resource has to be the top priority,” Wareham added.

“Given the spawning stock biomass is back to its 2014-15 level and continuing to decline, it would be prudent for Minister Leblanc to reduce the allowable catch accordingly,” observed Mr. Vascotto. “Furthermore, any future increase in the catch should be contemplated only after the spawning stock biomass has been verified to have reached 50% of the limit reference point, and even then, only if projections show continued growth.”

“The world is watching how we manage the recovery of Northern Cod,” cautioned Blaine Sullivan, Chief Operations Officer of Ocean Choice International, whose family has been harvesting cod for generations. “We need to avoid the cycle of past mistakes. We owe it to future generations to do the right thing, to slow-down and allow the stock to rebuild to levels that allow a viable fishery for the future. ”

 

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Media Contact:
Sarah Fleming
Director of Communications, GEAC
709.725.5830 I [email protected]

 

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.