The FFAW calls the “modest” increase in the Northern Cod quota a step in the right direction, but they would have liked to have seen it higher.

DFO this week set the annual quota at 12,350 tonnes, an increase from the previous year.

Union President Keith Sullivan says while positive for fish harvesters, there is room for more resource available for harvesters. He says the stock is being fished at extremely low levels and it’s disappointing that DFO didn’t see an opportunity to increase it to 15,000 tonnes.

He says the growth of the stock would not have been affected.

The Groundfish Industry Development Council agrees, but concerns are being raised by Oceana Canada who says the stock is critically depleted and to increase the quota undermines the newly amended Fisheries Act, which makes the rebuilding of depleted stocks the law.

The group’s Director of Science, Robert Rangely says the population could drop further because DFO is not managing fishing mortality responsibly.