The FFAW says while a 50 per cent cut to the 3Ps cod quota is better news than an outright moratorium, it does not believe the additional reduction is justified by science.
DFO announced yesterday that Canada and France agreed to reduce the Total Allowable Catch by half—to a maximum of 1,345 tons.
The FFAW points out that harvesters accepted a 55 per cent quota cut last year, and argues that another 50 per cent cut indicates that DFO’s approach is either ‘cut or close.’
The union says many fish harvesters in 3Ps do not have access to shellfish licences to supplement their lost income and rely entirely on the cod fishery.
It calls for action to be taken to manage a harvest in a responsible and sustainable matter.
Northern Cod Stock Assessment
The FFAW is also raising concerns surrounding some of the content of the DFO’s northern cod stock assessment.
Specifically, the union highlights a lack of emphasis on the role that seals play and the limit reference point.
On the latter, the FFAW explains that the current reference point is based on the status of the stock in the late 80s and early 90, and not on other periods of time where the stock was lower, fishing rates were higher, and the stock was still able to rebound.
President Keith Sullivan says the limit reference point is “not realistic” and that if it were based on a “proper historical perspective” the stock would be in the cautious zone instead of the critical zone.
Karen Dwyer, the DFO’s Stock Lead for Northern Cod explains why the reference point is based on information from the late 80s.
She says that’s the last time the stocks had good levels of recruitment. Further, she points out that the reference point has been reviewed multiple times and they feel it is still the best one for the stock.