In a meeting with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Wednesday, the Atlantic Groundfish Council (AGC) asked the department to hold the fishing quota for zone 3Ps at last year’s level.
That would put the quota at 2,691 metric tonnes for 2021-22 in the fishing region off the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“This recommendation is consistent with AGC’s long-standing commitment to responsible decisions that respect science advice and help enable a sustainable fishery for generations to come,” said the council’s executive director, Kris Vascotto, in a news release.
The virtual meeting hosted by DFO gave industry representatives a chance to have input and offer suggestions for management plans for the south coast cod stock.
According to Vascotto, all industry representatives at the meeting agreed that a rollover of quota is appropriate.
“This is in line with the principles of sustainability that is valued by Canada and by customers around the world.
“Consensus from industry on this is encouraging,” he added.
Among the groups participating in the online meeting with DFO were: the Fish Food and Allied Workers’ (FFAW) union, the Association of Seafood Processors (ASP), the Harbour Grace Shrimp Company and the Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council.
Last year the AGC advocated for a significant reduction in catch for 2020-21.
The AGC said in its news release that given last year’s reduction, combined with the recent positive science assessment which suggested that a rollover in catch should lead to growth, the group is comfortable in saying that a further reduction in catch is not necessary for the coming season.
Vascotto said the 3Ps cod fishery is important for members of the AGC, including employees on offshore vessels and in processing plants.
Although the offshore sector’s share of the total allowable catch is only 12 per cent, that share directly secures hundreds of local jobs, indirectly benefits hundreds more and ensures year-round cod supply to vital European markets, the council said.
Meanwhile, the AGC and its partner, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, will continue the Fishery Improvement Project they launched in 2017.
“Focusing on gaps in 3Ps science and management, this project seeks to prepare the stock for eventual Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) recertification once the stock returns to historic norms of productivity” said the council.
The group added DFO has also committed to produce a science-based rebuilding plan. This is an obligation for DFO under the newly revised Fisheries Act that came into law in recent weeks.
The FFAW raised the issue of seal predation at the meeting with DFO.
“The issue of seal populations were dismissed by DFO while being echoed by other stakeholders, maintaining that natural mortality is a significant driver of the continued poor status of the 3Ps stocks,” said union president Keith Sullivan in a press release.
Sullivan also noted the union is still concerned about the impact of offshore fishing activity on the 3Ps stock, reiterating its contention that when the 3Ps cod quota is set below the 10,000 tonne threshold, offshore trawlers should not be allowed to fish.
The annual Groundfish Advisory meeting hosted by DFO is just one of the steps towards final decisions on quotas for the next fishing season.
Decisions on 3Ps cod also involve negotiations with France, since the French hold rights to 15.6 per cent of the quota in respect of the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon located just off the Burin Peninsula.
Quotas for the next fishing season, April 2021 to March 2022, will be decided following those negotiations.
