FFAW Demands All Dragging be Halted in the Area
Above: DFO research scientist, Karen Dwyer presents a technical session outlining the level of the groundfish stock off Newfoundland’s south coast.
After several years of cautious optimism, the overall fate of Newfoundland and Labrador’s beleaguered groundfish stocks remain uncertain.
Earlier this year, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced that the 2018 2J3KL stewardship fishery management approach would include measures to ensure catches were distributed throughout the season and not exceed 9,500 metric tonnes, a 25 per cent reduction relative to 2017.
This reduction did not come as a real shock to anyone following DFO’s earlier announcement that 2J3KL cod, also known as Northern cod, had experienced a 29 per cent single-year decline in spawning stock biomass. A one-year projection showed a high probability of continued decline in the stock for 2019.
Now, the fate of the 3Ps cod stock appears not to be all that promising either.
DFO research scientist Karen Dwyer recently presented a technical session where she outlined the level of the groundfish stock off Newfoundland’s south coast.
The 3Ps cod stock has improved slightly since 2015, however, it remains in the cautious zone of the precautionary approach, Dwyer explained, adding the numbers do not show any signs of improvement in the near future.
“The total mortality rate remains high. Total mortality is the combined removals from fishing and natural mortality, but the contribution of each is unknown. If total mortality (fishing + natural) stays the same, spawning stock biomass (SSB) will decline into the critical zone by 2020 and remain there in 2021. Three-year projections with total mortality decreasing by 20 per cent indicate that SSB in 2021 will still be lower than SSB in 2018.”
In response to the dire assessment, the FFAW-Unifor said the 3Ps cod stock on the south coast is distinct from 2J3KL Northern cod and 4R Gulf of St. Lawrence cod and is trending differently than cod stocks in other areas of the province and as a result harvesters have suffered massive cuts greater than 50 per cent over the last two years.
“The cod stocks in 3Ps are in a vulnerable state and the federal government must protect the resource and the communities adjacent by removing the offshore draggers from fishing in the area,” said FFAW-Unifor President Keith Sullivan.
Despite strong opposition from FFAW-Unifor, the offshore fishery continues to operate during times of high aggregation pre-spawning periods, threatening the rebuilding stock, the union said.
“When the stock was at its most vulnerable in the 90s, the offshore did not participate in the fishery. Yet today, the federal government has allowed draggers to maintain operations in this area.”
“The 3Ps region is struggling economically and without this small quota of cod many of the enterprises in our area won’t survive. The draggers will just move onto another area or another fishery, but where are we supposed to go?” said Alfred Fitzpatrick, FFAW-Unifor Inshore Council member and fish harvester from Garnish.
However, the organization representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada said resource sustainability continues to be its top priority.
The Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) said its members have been relentless advocates for protecting the sustainability of groundfish stocks throughout Atlantic Canada — including repeatedly recommending catch reductions regardless of the implications on the operations of members.
“There were positive signals presented in the 2018 assessment and we hope this develops into a trend. That said, the stock remains in the cautious zone, so our focus remains on what we can do today to protect the resource for tomorrow,” says Kris Vascotto, GEAC executive director.
“For 3Ps cod in particular, GEAC has supported consistent reductions in total catch to match the downturn in the stock. This included a 50 per cent reduction in 2016/2017 and further drop for the 2017/2018 season. GEAC and its members have demonstrated a willingness to make sacrifices for the long-term health of the stock by reducing their catch by 64 per cent over the same period. Unfortunately, other sectors have used this opportunity to only increase their removals.”
GEAC noted that although the greater than 100-foot sector only has 14 per cent of the total allowable catch (TAC) for 3Ps cod, that small share goes a long way towards employment and stability for the industry.
“Our small share of quota is vital in extending employment and securing premium markets,” explained Alberto Wareham, President and CEO of Icewater Seafoods in Arnold’s Cove. “It keeps 210 people working and food on the table during the winter months when no other N.L. cod is available to be processed.”
Wareham added, “Icewater Seafoods provides N.L. cod to customers in premium markets in the EU. These markets operate on year-round contracts, relying on year-round supply. A balanced fishery provides important employment and also secures this market access. At the end of the day, this means better value for inshore harvesters when we buy their fish.”
“A balanced fishery is one that protects the viability of all fleet sectors. We fully support protecting the seasonal inshore harvester’s quota share. But the offshore sector’s 14 per cent, provides good paying jobs for year-round harvesters on our vessels, who also deserve to have their livelihoods protected,” added Blaine Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Choice International.
The FFAW noted in a press release that in May of last year, the offshore fleet voluntarily suspended its MSC certification for 3Ps cod prior to an audit planned for later that year.
“This audit would have undoubtedly resulted in the offshore having the certificate suspended and would have supported the concerns repeatedly raised by FFAW-Unifor that the offshore draggers should not be operating in the vulnerable 3Ps area.”
“Inshore harvesters and our coastal communities must be the primary beneficiaries of the stock and future management decisions must take into account the socioeconomic considerations of the people adjacent to the resource,” Sullivan added.
