Industry was consulted on extension, DFO says
Samples gathered will help pinpoint timing of peak spawning period for cod
Managing a viable fishery while keeping an eye on the health of fish stocks can be a difficult balancing act.
At play are industry pressures, the need of good science and the constant search for the most accurate information in relation to stock status and key spawning areas that need protection at the most crucial times.
After years of cod moratoriums, nowhere are management decisions more important than in the only commercial cod fishery presently taking place in the province — in the waters off the south coast of the province ( fishing zone 3Ps).
As crab stocks decline, inshore fishermen are once again relying more heavily on cod to keep them in the fishing industry.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), meanwhile, is being criticized by inshore fishermen in the zone for extending the fishing season by a month this winter, which they say has allowed processing companies to use draggers to scoop up cod on key spawning grounds.
On Wednesday, DFO issued a statement to The Telegram saying the department has received annual requests from both the inshore and offshore sectors to fish during the traditional spawning period in the zone.
In fact, after consultation with the industry, a pilot project began in 2014 to extend the fishing season to support the collection of samples that will contribute to scientific research into the timing of cod spawning.
The fishery extension did not result in any increase in the total allowable catch (TAC), as the TAC had not been taken by the time of the extension.
“As a continuation of the pilot project initiated in 2014, and at the request of industry, the department extended the 3Ps cod fishery to allow for the collection of samples to identify the timing of peak spawning,” Wednesday’s statement reads.
“This decision was made at the end of February following extensive consultations with the various fleet sectors.
“Based on the input from the fishing fleets, the department is collecting samples to help answer the question posed by the industry regarding the timing of peak spawning. This information is important to resolving the question around the appropriate timing of the spawning closure.”
After reports of hundreds of thousands of pounds of cod being taken in areas believed to be spawning grounds, the inshore fishermen are adamant the fishery should be stopped and the draggers denied further fishing.
The fishermen are also upset with their union — the Fish, Food and Allied Workers/Unifor (FFAW/Unifor) — for agreeing with the pilot project. The fishermen say they were never asked for their approval of the fishery extension.
The FFAW has come out in recent days, however, stating the confusion among their ranks is likely over the fact the union is working to have the fishing season extended longer for inshore boats, and that would include fishing during the spawning sea- son, but not in spawning areas.
“We are talking about a small fixed-gear fishery that’s really small scale and spread over a broad geographic area. So, in that fishery, you are not targetting a spawning concentration,” FFAW secretary-treasurer David Decker said.
“We are very clear about not having a concentration of fishing effort on spawning and prespawning aggregations of cod and we stated that clearly to the department.”
The extension to the fishery will end March 31. Data received this year will be used in the next stock assessment and also to help pinpoint spawning areas and peak times.
“Prior to next season there will be a review of the data and a full consultation to determine the appropriate closed time for the 3Ps cod fishery in 2016,” DFO said in its statement.
“The need for the continuation of the pilot project would be decided at that time.”