ST.
JOHN'S, NL, June 26,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Diane
Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
made a historic decision to be celebrated in communities across
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Minister Lebouthillier has announced the reopening of a
commercial fishery for the iconic 2J3KL Northern cod stock for the
first time in decades. The 2024-2025 season will open with a total
allowable catch set at 18,000 tonnes(t), an increase of 5,001 t, or
38%, over last year. The one-year decision is an extremely cautious
increase but a good first step towards realizing the stock's
potential and the benefits being felt by people, communities, and
businesses throughout the province.
Northern cod, located off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), is the third largest cod stock
in the world and the second largest groundfish stock in
Atlantic Canada. This year marks
the first time in a generation that the stock is being managed as a
stock in the Cautious Zone.
It is an exciting day for the community of Arnold's Cove, a town
of less than 1,000 people and home of the only plant in
North America focused solely on
North Atlantic cod.
"Our plant – backed by the people and the community – has stayed
committed to cod through the many challenges since the moratorium
over 30 years ago," reflected Alberto
Wareham, President and CEO of Icewater Seafoods. "We have
continued to invest in the best-available technology, invested in
and advocated for science and sustainable management, and worked
tirelessly to keep Newfoundland
and Labrador cod present in
premium world
markets."
For the 200 employees at Icewater Seafoods' plant, today's
announcement means an extended season and more year-round
operations. This year alone, their weeks of work processing local
cod will significantly increase over last year, and more
high-quality Newfoundland and
Labrador cod will be sold into
competitive global markets.
The AGC had recommended a higher TAC for this year – backed
by scientific evidence and sustainable harvesting rates of global
cod stocks – and emphasized the importance of respecting historical
shares and investments by local participants. Blaine Sullivan, President of family-owned Ocean
Choice International, grew up catching cod with his father in the
small community of Calvert, NL.
"There are certainly aspects of the decision that are not in line
with what we proposed and expected, but we understand the gravity
of reopening an iconic fishery after a 32-year moratorium. We
respect Minister Lebouthillier's decision to be ultra-cautious and
we expect future decisions will allow industry to grow the fishery
sustainably in a globally competitive and successful manner," noted
Sullivan.
The Atlantic Groundfish Council and its members have been
encouraging a sustainable and cautious approach to the fishery, and
President Sylvie Lapointe explains
that will continue. "Our members share a long history in the cod
business and want to achieve the ultimate objective of a Marine
Stewardship Council (MSC) certified Northern cod fishery for the
benefit of all harvesters. Together with the Sustainable Fisheries
Partnership and customers in the US, Canada, UK and France, we have been funding a leading Fishery
Improvement Project focused on Northern cod. We will continue to
invest in that project, which has included almost $10 million to-date."
"The re-opening of the Northern Cod fishery is a long-awaited
day. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a success
story for a fishery that defined our province for hundreds of
years," noted Martin Sullivan, CEO
of family-owned Ocean Choice International. "It is important that
all industry stakeholders focus on getting it right. That includes
harvesting, processing and marketing a sustainable, high-quality
product, that is competitive in global markets. It will also
require that future decisions provide the certainty needed to
enable long term investment planning by industry participants."
The Northern cod moratorium is known world-wide. While the
decision to move to a commercial Northern cod fishery brings a lot
of excitement to many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, it is
crucial for all to work together. In this regard, the AGC and its
members are eager to get started on next steps, which will include
working collaboratively with our governments, industry, and other
stakeholders to develop a Precautionary Approach Framework with
appropriate Harvest Control Rules. This will ensure that harvest
levels for this important renewable resource remain
sustainable.
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.
Northern Cod Fishery Improvement Project
The Atlantic Groundfish Council and its members have
demonstrated a deep commitment to the recovery of the Northern cod
stock by leading a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) with the
Association of Seafood Producers. Customers in the UK, US, and
France also financially contribute
to the FIP. The FIP is filling knowledge gaps identified
collectively by industry, academia and government and
includes a multi-million dollar world class acoustic tracking
project that will help define the migration patterns of
Northern cod, necessary for good management.
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Areas
Map
SOURCE Atlantic Groundfish Council