St John's, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- World Wildlife Fund Canada is calling for caution in the management of Newfoundland and Labrador’s northern cod fishery, following news that the spawning stock biomass declined 29 per cent in 2017. WWF-Canada, which has been working in the province on a fishery improvement project for northern cod, urges Fisheries and Oceans Canada to prioritize the species’ recovery and keep removals from fishing at the lowest possible levels. In addition, WWF-Canada would like to see consideration given to ocean conditions, climate change and the health of other fish species, such as capelin, when making decisions about management of the fishery.
Sigrid Kuehnemund, vice-president of ocean conservation for WWF-Canada, says:
“This troubling news means it’s more important than ever for Fisheries and Oceans Canada to manage the northern cod fishery in a precautionary manner, taking into account what we know about climate change, changing ocean conditions, food availability and the impact of these factors on northern cod. While changing environmental conditions and the natural mortality of cod are factors beyond our control, fishing is also having an impact on the stock's decline – and that is something we do have control over. We urge Fisheries and Oceans Canada to implement harvest-control rules for the northern cod fishery to guide how removals from all sources can be kept at the lowest possible level until the stock clears the critical zone.
“Furthermore, if Fisheries and Oceans Canada is to allow a recreational fishery in 2018, removals must be limited and monitored through a tagging program. The recovery of cod is linked to the abundance of their preferred food, the forage fish capelin, and harvest strategies for both capelin and cod should be linked to take into account this important predator-prey relationship.”
About northern cod
The collapse of northern cod is one of the world's biggest ecological disasters. The species, which for centuries thrived in the cold waters around Newfoundland and Labrador, has been under a fishing moratorium for more than 25 years, though a stewardship fishery and recreational fishery continue to operate.
Northern cod has shown promising signs of recovery since 2012. On Friday, March 23, 2018, Fisheries and Oceans Canada held a technical briefing of a new stock assessment that revealed:
- The spawning stock biomass (the total amount of cod capable of reproducing) declined by 29 per cent in 2017 and remains in the critical zone.
- The ecosystem is in a state of low productivity, with cod’s main food sources, capelin and shrimp, at low levels. Capelin are not projected to rebound until beyond 2019, which will likely limit cod recovery in the short term.
- No information is available about how many fish are being caught in the recreational fishery.
About WWF-Canada’s work on northern cod
WWF-Canada has been working on a fishery improvement project (FIP) for 2J3KL northern cod, with partner the FFAW-Unifor. In December 2016, the FIP’s comprehensive action plan for a sustainable future inshore cod fishery was released.
About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aaa6196e-f0e7-42f1-ba9c-e0f4cc553822