The latest assessment of the third largest cod stock in the world shows that growth has stalled, but the FFAW says an increase in the biomass is good news.
The stock remains at about the same level as in the early 90s when the moratorium was declared. The assessment shows the stock is only halfway up the ladder to the cautious zone from the current critical zone. Fisheries scientist Karen Dwyer says cod are unable to find enough food so they’re resorting to cannibalism. In the fish world, that means larger cod are eating smaller cod.
The stock had been increasing year over year but now it has stalled.
But FFAW president Keith Sullivan says an increase in the biomass from 400,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes clearly shows growth. He says fishing pressure is only at two per cent.
He says in the Barents Sea, harvesting pressure is at 40 per cent, which shows that management of the 2J3KL stock is ultra conservative.