e-5057 (Fisheries)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada recognizes the historical, cultural, and economic importance of the Northern cod resource to the fish harvesters, Indigenous groups, and coastal communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

There have been recent and positive developments in the understanding of the Northern cod stock, and the stock remains in the Cautious Zone of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Precautionary Approach Framework. Moving toward a commercial fishery for Northern cod follows a similar path to other Canadian groundfish stocks that are also in the Cautious Zone. This decision, as with all fisheries management decisions, carefully considered the results of the most recent scientific assessment, recommendations from stakeholders, and socio-economic considerations.

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), which Canada is a member, previously established specific management measures relating to the directed Northern cod fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area (NRA), outside of Canada’s 200 mile limit. This measure allocates five per cent of the overall TAC to other NAFO contracting parties when Canada re-opens its commercial Northern cod fishery. The Canadian TAC of 18,000 tonnes is considered 95 per cent of the overall TAC; and the Canadian offshore fleet received a 6 per cent share (1,080 tonnes).

It is important to note, that the primary beneficiaries of the commercial Northern cod resource are the inshore sector, and Indigenous groups (Innu Nation and Nunatsiavut Government). A special allocation was also provided to the  NunatuKavut Community Council. Collectively these  allocations  account for 93 per cent of the overall Canadian Total Allowable Catch. The offshore fleet has also been allocated 6 per cent of the allowable catch and is responsible for managing all catch within this limit. Given that 98 per cent of the offshore enterprise allocations are owned by entities based in Newfoundland and Labrador, nearly all of the Canadian TAC will provide direct benefit to harvesters and processors based in the province (99 per cent). If the first 115,000 tonnes of commercial Northern cod were allocated only to the inshore fleet and Indigenous harvesters, other Canadian fleets would be excluded from the fishery while fishing by NAFO contracting parties would be allowed to occur in the NAFO regulatory area outside the Canadian 200-mile limit.

Additionally, Canada establishes management measures for Northern cod in Canadian fisheries waters, and NAFO establishes management measures for the portion of the stock outside of Canadian fisheries waters in the NRA. The Conservation Harvesting Plan for the offshore fleet for the 2024 season includes specific provisions related to bycatch of Northern cod and the fleets’ directed Northern cod fishery, and other management measures to achieve conservation objectives, ensure sustainable management, and the orderly harvest of Northern cod. These specific provisions include catch and bycatch limits, season dates, gear restrictions, closed times, at-sea observer coverage, reporting requirements, and a small fish protocol.

Any directed fishing by NAFO contracting parties is restricted to the NAFO regulatory area outside the Canadian 200-mile limit. Fishing activity in the NAFO regulatory area is closely monitored with vessel patrols, at-sea inspections, port inspections, aerial surveillance, and satellite vessel monitoring.

Stewardship and conservation are central to the management of this fishery, and we will continue to monitor the stock closely, assessing any factors that may affect its health, and making adjustments to management measures as needed.