The federal government is closing the commercial cod fishery in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence for one year, a move that disappoints the union and the provincial government.
Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray says cod stocks in the area are at risk of serious harm, and the closure is needed in order to rebuild them. She says the one-year management plan will allow young fish in the stock to reach maturity.
Because of the cultural significance of cod to residents of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, she will allow the recreational fishery to continue with a regulated season and daily limits.
The FFAW disagrees with the move, saying the one-year closure hurts a struggling region. Spokesman Jason Spingle told VOCM Open Line with Linda Swain that the real problem is seal overpopulation which she is allowing to spiral out of control.
He says the harvesting pressure is already so low that the cut will do nothing to help the stock recover.
Fisheries Minister Derrick Bragg, too, is concerned about the abundance of seals in the region and is hoping that the upcoming summit on seals will identify solutions.