he decision by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to set a quota of 3,750 pounds for the 2009 Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery in 2J3KL shows that science is being left out of the decision-making process in Ottawa, the FFAW/CAW says.
FFAW Secretary-Treasurer David Decker says fish harvesters across the province are angry that quota increases continue to be almost non-existent at a time when science numbers are showing major increases of cod on the northeast coast of Newfoundland.
“We have long believed that decision makers with DFO in Ottawa have very little idea what’s happening on the water here in Newfoundland and Labrador. But this senseless decision on 2J3KL cod now tells us that the minister and her officials either have no idea about their own science data, or are simply choosing to ignore it,” Decker said.
Decker said harvesters fully expected last year that DFO might increase the cod quota in 2J3KL to at least 5,000 pounds, but they we’re left disappointed by the final announcement of 3,300 pounds — well short of industry expectations.
“Now this year, with science once again showing even greater numbers, and harvesters reporting exceptional cod catch rates throughout the region, it is unfathomable to people in our industry that the quotas have not corresponded with the science,” he said.
DFO’s fall survey for cod in 2J3KL have consistently shown large increases in spawning stock biomass over the past five years. In 2005, the survey showed 15,000 metric tones. As of last year, in 2008, that same survey showed 113,000 metric tonnes.
Over the course of that same time, the quotas allocated to 2J3KL harvesters as part of the stewardship fishery have not followed the scientific track. In 2006, the quota was set at 3,000 pounds. This year’s allocation of 3,750 pounds represents a quota increase of 25 per cent since 2005 — compared to the 653 per cent increase in biomass over that same timeframe.
“Had the minister treated licence holders in 2J3KL fairly, she would have made sure there was much more balance between the increases in biomass and the quota allocations,” Decker said.
“Harvesters across the province fully understand the importance of science and being good stewards of fish resources, so it seems strange to us that DFO doesn’t appear to have the same understanding. If they did have the same understanding, they wouldn’t be dismissing the science numbers on cod on the northeast coast of Newfoundland when making decisions about quota allocations.”
The FFAW was recently forced to write Shea, urging her to simply get on with announcing this year’s 2J3KL cod stewardship fishery. In 2008, the details of that fishery had been released by mid-June. Even more disconcerting for fish harvesters this year was the fact that Shea chose to release information on the recreational cod fishery nearly a month before details on the commercial fishery.
In the end, Decker said the end result wasn’t worth the extra wait.
“This is yet another crippling blow for our inshore fish harvesters and plantworkers who are in the midst of a disastrous 2009 season.”
