The FFAW says capelin harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are reporting positive catch rates and an abundant resource so far this fishing season.

Following DFO’s technical briefing on the 2J3KL capelin stock last March, fish harvesters remain optimistic that more favourable environmental conditions are leading to stock growth. The union, which represents all commercial capelin harvesters in the province, continues to call o9n Ottawa to increase scientific understanding of the stock.

The 2023 NL commercial capelin fishery has a quota of 14,533 metric tonnes, a rollover of the same quota from last year.

Current science focuses only on area 3L, and significant shifts in spawning locations and behaviours observed by harvesters are not being captured as a result – notably movement of the resource further north.

Oceana Canada has called for a closure of the harvest but the FFAW says that is not the answer as landings are less than 15,000 metric tonnes, modest in terms of impact on the stock.