What happened to Newfoundland and Labrador lumpfish?
“For years we had a viable fishery for lump roe in this province, then during the past 10 years we have been lucky to produce 500 barrels annually,” says Paul Grant, the executive vice-president of Beothic Fish Processors Ltd., based in Valleyfield, N.L.
For many years the fishery for lump roe provided an economic contribution to inshore harvesters and processors alike in Newfoundland and Labrador. The fishery began in the early 1970s, eventually expanding to average production in the 1990s of 14,000 barrels per year. During this period, N.L. lump roe accounted for about 40 per cent of global production.
N.L. production became a little more variable in the early 2000s, but there were years with production above 10,000 barrels.
call lumpfish, is found in waters around Newfoundland and Labrador. Lumpfish are harvested for roe, which is an alternative to more expensive caviar. Photos courtesy of NLGIDC
This sounds positive, however, during the past 10 years (2012–2021), the average N.L. production has been just over 400 barrels.
“We want some answers. What happened to our lumpfish resource,” asks Keith Sullivan, the President of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW).
“The lump roe fishery in many parts of our province regularly contributed to the incomes of many fish harvesters,” added Sullivan.
The lumpfish fisheries in Greenland and Iceland have achieved a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-certification. Lumpfish in Newfoundland and Labrador have not been certified. Additional scientific and management analysis will be required for these local stocks to achieve similar certifications. Without fishery certifications, it will be difficult for Newfoundland and Labrador lumpfish to compete in the global marketplace.
The NLGIDC is calling on scientists and managers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to review all available data on lumpfish to provide some insight into the population dynamics of this once abundant species.
In order to rebuild this resource, we need to know why it declined. Was it climate change or predation by seals or something else? Let’s put some effort into this and get much needed answers.
The NLGIDC is a council comprised of The FFAW and seven fish processing companies. Its main objective is to promote sustainable fisheries for groundfish resources in Newfoundland and Labrador.
By the Newfoundland and Labrador
Groundfish Industry Development Council (NLGIDC)
