Overview of 3Ps Cod Fishery
- The 3Ps Atlantic cod stock is located off the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is currently managed as a low-level, precautionary fishery under Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Rebuilding Framework.
- For the 2025–2026 fishing year, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 3Ps cod is 1,206 tonnes, reflecting the stock’s status in the Critical Zone. The offshore fishing sector is allocated 12% of the TAC, representing a relatively small share of overall removals.
- The offshore sector focuses on late season harvesting when quality is highest and when product is needed to sustain onshore processing jobs in Arnold’s Cove. For that that reason, the offshore sector typically begins its harvest late in the year, while the inshore fishery predominantly occurs in the summer and fall.
Management and Monitoring Measures
- The 3Ps cod fishery is subject to robust management measures designed to tightly control fishing removals while supporting stock rebuilding, including: Strict TAC limits
- 100% At-Sea Observer coverage in the offshore fishery
- Seasonal closures during the cod spawning period (March 1 to May 14)
- Defined fishing seasons that occur outside the spawning period
- Ongoing scientific monitoring and annual stock assessments by DFO
Important Facts on 3Ps Cod Spawning
- DFO Science have verified that the offshore fishery, occurring November – February, does not overlap with the cod spawning period, which can occur from March – August.
- The term “pre-spawning aggregation” is poorly defined and really relates to any aggregation of fish that is not spawning. Generally, the challenge of fisheries management is to ensure harvesters do not remove too many fish – the timing of those removals is of less importance.
Distinction Between 3Ps Cod and Northern (2J3KL) Cod
- 3Ps Atlantic cod is a distinct stock from Northern (2J3KL) cod, which is found along the northeast and east coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. DFO assesses and manages these stocks separately due to differences in their biological characteristics, geographic distribution, and environmental conditions.
- 3Ps Atlantic cod is currently in the Critical Zone, while 2J3KL Northern cod is in the Healthy Zone. The 2J3KL Northern cod stock is not experiencing the same environmental pressures as 3Ps cod.
- As a result, stock status, rebuilding timelines, and management outcomes are not directly comparable between the two stocks.
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Areas
