Today, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) held a technical briefing on the latest science assessment for the 3Ps cod stock, located off the south coast of Newfoundland.
“The ecosystem in 3Ps continues to undergo structural changes and unfortunately, despite incredibly low fishing mortality levels, the south coast cod stock assessment is not showing the growth we were hoping to see this year nor the growth expected under the 3Ps Cod Rebuilding Plan” noted Vanessa Bourgeois, Director of Fisheries Management and Science with the Atlantic Groundfish Council. “Besides the benefit to harvesters, plant workers, and communities, the low-level fishery continues to provide valuable information for science assessment of 3Ps cod.”
The Atlantic Groundfish Council remains committed to the long-term sustainability of fish stocks and continues to collaborate with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and industry partners to rebuild this stock. The AGC will be supporting a review of the 3Ps Cod Rebuilding Plan to ensure it reflects the current understanding of stock growth. Additionally, the AGC is continuing its efforts to promote the growth of the stock by coordinating a Fishery Improvement Project specific to 3Ps cod.
While it is a challenging period for 3Ps cod, the much larger 2J3KL cod stock off the province’s northeast coast – referred to as Northern Cod – is entering the Healthy Zone and reminding customers around the world that Canadian cod is doing well overall. Canadian cod has earned a global reputation as a high-quality whitefish, with much credit for that reputation given to Icewater Seafoods in Arnold’s Cove, NL. The local, family-owned company is the sole cod-only producer of Atlantic cod in North America, and one of only a handful worldwide approved to sell to global sustainability leader, Marks & Spencer.
“We continue to view all cod stocks with a long-term view; supporting sustainable harvesting, sound fisheries management decisions informed by science, and a quality-over-quantity approach to processing,” explained Alberto Wareham, President and CEO of Icewater Seafoods and the 7th generation of his family in the cod business. “To date, that focus has allowed us to keep 250 people employed in mostly year-round jobs, producing cod that customers around the world are eager to buy.”
For 3Ps cod specifically, this science update will be followed by a Groundfish Advisory Committee meeting in January, where industry stakeholders will further discuss the stock with DFO before Canada and France meet in March to negotiate a Total Allowable Catch for the 2026-2027 3Ps cod season.
About the Atlantic Groundfish Council
The Atlantic Groundfish Council is a non-profit industry association representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. Its members employ thousands of people, mostly in year-round jobs in rural communities throughout Atlantic Canada. The Council contributes to research that will improve the sustainability and management of groundfish fisheries by actively supporting science, sustainability certifications and responsible management.