HISTORIC MOMENT AS CANADIAN COD FISHERY REOPENED

Historic moment as Canadian cod fishery reopened. Canada has announced the end of the Northern cod moratorium off the north and east coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

This historic decision re-establishes a commercial Northern cod fishery in NAFO Divisions 2J3KL with a Canadian Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 18,000 tonnes for the 2024 season. The inshore fleet sector will receive approximately eighty-four percent of the TAC, with twenty percent of this inshore sector allocation provided to 2J-based harvesters and six percent of the TAC is allocated to the Canadian offshore fleet.

This responsible reopening will generate significant economic benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador’s  economy while supporting good paying jobs in the commercial fishery and the processing industry. It also follows last week’s announcement of the Recreational Groundfish Fishery which was a roll-over from 2023. The 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish Fishery will be open this season for 39 days. It will be open every Saturday, Sunday and Monday from June 29, 2024, up to and including September 2, 2024, and for nine days from Saturday, September 21 to Sunday, September 29, 2024.

Additionally, the department intends to eliminate the catch and release aspect of tour boat operations in the Recreational Groundfish Fishery, and introduce a tagging regime starting in 2025. DFO will consult with tour boat operators in the fall of 2024 as a first step in developing this requirement.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada remains committed to sustainable management practices that balance conservation with economic considerations in Newfoundland and Labrador’s fisheries.

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, said:

“Ending the Northern cod moratorium is a historic milestone for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. It’s through working together that we have reached this moment. We will cautiously but optimistically build back this fishery with the prime beneficiaries being coastal and Indigenous communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. As a government, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering sustainable and economically prosperous fisheries that honour our shared resources for generations to come. I encourage all participants to prioritise safety and enjoy a rewarding season on the water.”

Quick facts

• The 2J3KL Northern cod stock has been in the Cautious zone since 2016. The transition to a commercial fishery for Northern cod aligns with other Canadian groundfish stocks that are in the Cautious zone of the Precautionary Approach Framework.
• The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) previously established a measure to allocate 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 18,000t is considered 95 per cent of the overall TAC.

Source