John Brattey, a research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, informed that the latest assessment of cod in Newfoundland area shows no clear trend on where the stock is headed. He added that the situation is really frustrating. Fishermen and fisheries managers are in fix over the situation.
It is reported that the cod stocks off the south coast have been among the healthiest in Newfoundland and Labrador, but the northern cod stock, off the island’s northeast coast, remain weak. According to Brattey the area has not been oversfished since 15 years as fishermen have been catching cod off the south coast that are bigger and older than in recent years.
Brattey questioned that it is difficult to say how many younger fish will survive to maturity. The report also indicates that the fishing zone, which is known in the industry as 3PS, has been in steady decline since 2000. It is true that the assessment of the cod stocks in Newfoundland is based on variety of data and information, which include landings, trawl surveys and logbooks. According to Department of Fisheries and Oceans this assessment will be used by fisheries managers before commercial quotas finalized for the coming year.
