St. John’s – The Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) has called upon the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to take decisive action to help protect and rebuild the iconic Northern Cod Stock by proposing a reduction of over 50% in catch.
“Since 2016, GEAC has repeatedly expressed concerns about aggressive increases in the Northern Cod catch,” explained Kris Vascotto, GEAC’s Executive Director. “We noted the natural environment was changing, portions of the ecosystem needed to sustain the cod growth were missing, cod recruitment was still too low, and fishing removals were increasing too fast. The writing was on the wall.”
Concerns that increases were too aggressive were echoed by independent research scientists and many DFO staff.
“Perhaps the only thing more disappointing and concerning than the single-year 30% decline in Northern Cod’s spawning stock biomass, is the response from the FFAW and its surrogate, the GIDC (Groundfish Industry Development Council). These groups continue to ignore warning signs that this stock is in trouble and scientific advice that catch be kept to the lowest possible level,” added Vascotto.
This week, the GIDC/FFAW put forward another irresponsible proposal. Despite catch levels being the only action within our control, the GIDC/FFAW plan would result in virtually no change in landings from last year. People, businesses and communities that rely on the fishery need a sustainable future, not one that rolls the dice based on an unrealistic hope that environmental or ecosystem conditions may dramatically improve.
“GEAC, along with the provincial government, indigenous organizations and environmental groups all acknowledged at this week’s Groundfish Advisory Council meeting that a meaningful reduction in catch is necessary,” Vascotto added.
The FFAW has simultaneously concocted a conspiracy theory that GEAC is intending to destroy the inshore fishery, the same inshore fishery that GEAC member’s companies depend on for their future. It’s an accusation that makes no sense.
“Just as we have for other groundfish stocks, GEAC will continue to advocate for the conservation of Northern Cod. We won’t waiver in our commitment to doing the right thing for the future of the resource,” explained Vascotto. “This will mean reducing fishery removals to a sustainable level and helping the stock to rebuild, at least until it grows above its Critical Zone.”
“We ask all participants to redirect their efforts to working together to find a more secure and prosperous future within the groundfish fishery in Atlantic Canada,” Vascotto added.
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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.