The Association of Seafood Producers sees calls for the closure of the commercial capelin fishery this year as “hasty and misguided.”
ASP says the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ latest stock assessment for capelin along the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador may be at low levels, but the biomass is near the long-term average.
The association argues that a fishery took place in 2010 when the stock was at lower levels and the stock rebounded from then. Executive Director Derek Butler says that alone supports a fishery.
Butler says capelin are harvested in the last few weeks before they spawn, which is the point in the life cycle when they die. He says that harvest does not appear to have a large effect on the availability of food for other species.
Meanwhile, a retired fisherman and educator is suggesting a two-pronged approach to this year’s capelin fishery.
Barry Darby says the province doesn’t have to choose between a total ban of the fishery or continuing as is. Darby suggests a third option – keep a capelin fishery based on meeting local needs, and selectively harvesting more cod to relieve pressure on both stocks.
Darby says Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should be allowed to harvest some capelin, primarily for bait, food and other traditional uses, but there is no need for a roe fishery, which is only for export.
The roe fishery targets egg-bearing females, so suspending that fishery would remove the stock’s barrier to growth.