This year marks the first time in a generation that Northern cod is being managed as a stock in the Cautious Zone, as Canada’s Minister for Fisheries Diane Lebouthillier 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 5001 t, or 38%, over last year. The one-year decision is described by the Atlantic Groundfish Council as 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.
‘Ending the Northern cod moratorium is a historic milestone for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. It’s through working together that we have reached this moment,’ Diane Lebouthillier said.
‘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 prioritize safety and enjoy a rewarding season on the water.’
It’s an exciting day for the community of Arnold’s Cove, a town of less than 1000 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, the 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 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,’ he said.
The Atlantic Groundfish Council and its members have been encouraging a sustainable and cautious approach to the fishery, according to its President Sylvie Lapointe.
‘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,’ she said.
‘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 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 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 Organization (NAFO) previously established a measure to allocate 5% 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% of the overall TAC.
‘Ending the Northern cod moratorium is a historic milestone for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. It’s through working together that we have reached this moment,’ said Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard Diane Lebouthillier
Blaine Sullivan (right) of Ocean Choice International, with his brother Martin and their mother, welcoming the arrival of offshore trawler Calvert in 2020
