A recent study shows that cod bycatch was at least 70 per cent higher than target levels on the southern Grand Banks near Canada. WWF-Canada said that European Union boats were responsible for the largest proportion of the overrun in bycatch. It is told that the excessive bycatch of cod has undermined a moratorium imposed in 1994.
It was in 2008 when WWF pushed for cod recovery strategy that included setting a bycatch reduction target of 40 percent for southern Grand Banks cod at the September 2007 annual meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). But unofficial figure shows that in 2008 a total of 713 tonnes of bycatch, with EU boats taking 444 tonnes.
Dr. Robert Rangeley, Vice President Atlantic, WWF-Canada said that cod and other fish stocks can never recover as long as NAFO refuses to see the urgency of the bycatch problem and acknowledge that voluntary measures are not working. He added that it is the responsibility of the Fisheries Commission to impose strict management measures that will ensure cod recovery.
In this context WWF is now appealing to NAFO to act immediately taking stern measures that will benefit the ecosystem health and the fisheries of the Grand Banks. This is entirely consistent with the Ecosystem management approach adopted in the newly revised NAFO Convention. It is told that the measures should include the adoption of an effective recovery plan for southern Grand Banks cod that sets long-term recovery goals, immediate bycatch reduction targets, gear-based solutions and closures to protect spawning and nursery areas.
