Cod season for the recreational groundfish fishery has begun in Newfoundland and Labrador with lot of criticism. Scientists concerned about the fragile state of the province’s cod stocks. This marks the third summer in a row for the recreational fishery, which allows residents and tourists to catch up to five fish a day, to a maximum of 15 fish per boat trip.
George Rose, cod scientist and chair of fisheries conservation with Memorial University, commented that many fishermen are arguing the bays are full of cod. But it seems that the scientists are losing their perspective on what abundance means. He also said that there is “little to no” fishing of the struggling stocks, he says there are benefits to a small public fishery. He added that it is a way to inject … social and economic activity in rural Newfoundland.
But Harry Lee of Petty Harbour, a small town 15 kilometres from downtown St. John’s, would agree with that last point. According to him his fishing buddy Stephen Ershler were already back on land with their catch of the day by 6 a.m. He said that at the time, the population of Newfoundland and Labrador stood at 580,000, a record high. With the end of the cod fishery began the tumble that continues today: According to the province’s April, 2008, estimate, there are now just over 508,000 residents. And, 16 years later, the cod stocks are still only a fraction of what they were.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans states that the 2008 northern cod stock assessment shows the average biomass of offshore cod over the past three years is between 4 and 5 per cent of what it was in the 1980s. This year’s northern cod quota stands at 3,250 pounds per licence holder, up from 2,500 pounds in 2007. The total cod quota will come in at about 6,200 tonnes, up from last year’s 5,000 tonnes.
Commenting on this Dr. Rose says any increase in cod quotas “sends the wrong message entirely.” But many commercial fishermen take an opposite tack. He also said that the minister was a bit cautious … and the fishermen are a little cheesed off. Bill Broderick, the inshore director for the Fish, Food and Allied Workers, says the fishermen he represents were hoping for a quota of about 5,000 pounds per licence. He told that they didn’t want to go higher than that, but given the signs they see, they think there could have been more.
