The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
About 23 years ago, I helped lead a team that designed and implemented the cod sentinel inshore survey on Northern cod (Southern Avalon, North East Coast and Labrador).
The status of Northern cod has been in the news a great deal lately and the decision by DFO to cut the commercial quota has been met with some stiff opposition from the FFAW-Unifor. This prompted me to do a little investigating to see what the cod sentinel is telling us about Northern cod.
Based on a review of cod sentinel ...
GEAC Attempting to Discredit N.L. Inshore Sector
I feel compelled to respond to the letter submitted to the May issue of The Navigator by Kris Vascotto of the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC).
Many of the issues raised by Vascotto require correction or at a minimum, clarification. In many cases, Vascotto cherry picked information and made an attempt to discredit the inshore sector of the fishing industry in this province.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council (GIDC) is a recently-establi...
Northern Cod Recovery Stalls
DFO Reports 29 Per Cent Single-Year Decline in 2J3KL Cod Spawning Stock Biomass
The return of a viable commercial cod fishery in the waters off eastern Newfoundland appears to have suffered a setback.
At a recent technical assessment, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) released its 2018 science assessment for 2J3KL cod, also known as Northern cod and announced a 29 per cent single-year decline in spawning stock biomass. A one-year projection shows a high probability of continued ...
Northern Cod: Focusing on Facts and Science to Protect the Future
In March, word of a single-year 30 per cent decline in Northern cod attracted the attention of media, scientists and environmental groups from around the globe.
The world was clearly watching Canada’s management of this stock.
It was quite telling to see how various stakeholders responded.
From a scientific perspective, I was disappointed but not surprised with the dramatic decline. Since 2015, our organization, the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC), has repeatedly ...
NL-GIDC Outlines Priority Issues for Groundfish Industry Development
Above photo: NL-GIDC independent chair, Jim Baird
Since its inception in April 2016, the Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council (NL-GIDC) has quickly become a major player in formulating a strategy for re-establishing a commercial cod fishery in the province.
The organization, made up of processors, harvesters and government officials, recently unveiled its latest strategy at its annual general meeting in St. John’s.
“The way forward for our provinc...
Groundfish Council Influencing Changes to N.L. Cod Fishery
The Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council (GIDC) has only been in existence for 10 months, but has already made an impact on the province’s fishery.
In April 2016, the union representing fishermen and plant workers (Fish Food and Allied Workers – FFAW) announced it had teamed up with some of the province’s fish processors to form the GIDC, with the goal of facilitating inter-industry cooperation in the revitalization of the groundfish industry.
The ...
