Some Positive News for Capelin, But Stock Still in Critical Zone
Capelin stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador have improved since 2021, but are nowhere near where they need to be.
While delivering its latest technical briefing on capelin stocks, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced a new limit reference point (LRP) for capelin stocks, indicating their biomass needs to be over 640 kilotonnes (kt). This LRP is based on cod stocks and how much available capelin they would need to sustain a healthy population.
“We’re considering ...
Overall Northern Shrimp Stock Showing Signs of Life
The Northern shrimp stock off Newfoundland’s northeast coast appears to be holding its own, including the all-important shrimp fishing area (SFA) 6.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) held a technical briefing recently regarding the 2021 Northern shrimp stock assessment and reported that the SFA 6 spawning stock and fishable biomasses increased slightly between 2019–20.
SFA 6 is where the majority of the inshore N.L. shrimp fishery takes place.
DFO said that SFA 6 remains ...
On the Waterfront – February 2020
New Processing Facility to be Built in Digby
Construction is expected to start this spring on a new $14.25-million, 43,580-square-foot seafood production facility in the Digby Industrial Park.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) announced in December the approval of a business development incentive in the form of an innovation rebate for fish harvesting and processing company Scotia Harvest Inc.
The company is eligible to earn a maximum innovation rebate of $1,863,333 upon completion of its ...
Thinking Big
Comparisons are often made between the fisheries in Iceland and Atlantic Canada.
I have made such comparisons in this column and others have made them, as well. In these comparisons, Iceland is usually considered a model we need to follow.
There are good reasons to make such comparisons.
Historically, Iceland’s fishery was similar to ours in Atlantic Canada. We harvested the same species in similar quantities and competed in the same markets. The major difference was that Icelandic ...
Port de Grave Peninsula Pays Tribute to John Efford
Above: John Efford accepting a street sign bearing his name from the President of the Port de Grave Harbour Authority, Ross Petten.
To many people, the name John Efford and the fishing industry are synonymous.
But yet, the Port de Grave native who is best known for his 20 years in politics, spent less than five years as Minister of Fisheries. And despite being surrounded by fishermen while he was growing up, including several men in his own family, Efford never fished commercially.
...
More Bad News for Northern Cod Recovery Prospects
Those anticipating a return of a viable commercial Northern
cod fishery in the waters off eastern Newfoundland may to have to wait a few
more years yet.
At a recent technical briefing, the Department of Fisheries
and Oceans (DFO) reported that the 2J3KL cod stock, also known as Northern cod,
has continued to decline from 2017 to 2018 and remains in the critical zone.
The spawning stock biomass (SSB) has declined from 441,000 tonnes in 2017 to
315,000 tonnes in 2018. The low spawning stock ...
On the Waterfront – December 2018
Fire Destroys St. Mary’s Bay Fish Plant
Another Newfoundland fish plant has been lost to fire.
The Hickey & Sons Fisheries Ltd. fish plant in St. Mary’s Bay was destroyed by an October 26 massive blaze.
The plant was a total write-off.
Between 80 and 100 people work at the plant. It processed lobster, mussels, groundfish, whelk, scallops and pelagic fish, like capelin.
Hickey & Sons Fisheries co-owner Craig Hickey told CBC the plant was insured and that the company ...
Combining Fishfinders with Underwater Cameras: The Future of Scientific Surveys?
“What is that red spot on the screen?”
This is a question that every mariner and fishery scientist using fishfinders has been asked. While experience and knowledge of the ecosystem help provide some clues, we cannot be certain without further identifications.
Fisheries scientists use scientific echosounders, also known as fishfinders, to survey the distribution and abundance of fish throughout the world. It is important to know exactly what species are detected by the echosounders and ...
A Red Sky at Morning
Like most veteran fishing skippers, John Gillett has plenty of good yarns to spin about his many years on the water.
Some are funny, some are about boats loaded to the gunwales, some are about bad years and others are about close calls — all are interesting.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity one evening to sit and chat with John on the veranda of his home in Gillesport/Twillingate on the northeast coast of Newfoundland.
Overlooking Twillingate Harbour while sipping a cup of tea ...
