Cod takes a battering

Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Posted in Marine | Tagged Marine

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Vigo, Spain: There was a significant setback for cod recovery this week following the annual meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) here. The status of cod on the southern Grand Banks, historically one of the world’s most important fisheries off Newfoundland, Canada, remains severely depleted despite 14 years under fishing moratorium.

Last year NAFO adopted a southern Grand Banks cod recovery strategy to reduce bycatch of cod by 40 per cent. This year NAFO made decisions that will lead to increases in cod bycatch in 2009 without knowing whether this target was met.

“The decisions affecting cod bycatch are not consistent with NAFO’s commitments to the precautionary and ecosystem management,” said Dr. Robert Rangeley, Vice President Atlantic, WWF-Canada.

Of most concern were decisions to increase the yellowtail flounder catch limit, and maintain the thorny skate limit well above scientific recommendations. These decisions have the potential to directly impact cod in 2009.

“The only hope we can see for this situation is for NAFO and member countries to immediately implement more stringent measures to reduce cod bycatch in their fleets,” said Dr Rangeley. “Continuing with the status quo will surely wipe out the promising 2005 year class and the best opportunity for the recovery of this stock.”

NAFO did take some important steps towards the protection of vulnerable habitats, such as coldwater coral forests. For example, measures were adopted to limit the impacts of bottom fishing in new fishing areas and provide for the protection of corals when encountered.

New measures were also put in place to protect the Fogo Seamounts (undersea mountains located southwest of the Grand Banks). These efforts were strengthened by commitments to conduct new sea floor mapping and research.

The recovery of the southern Grand Banks cod population will depend on the survival and reproduction of pulses of young cod in the population, such as occurred this year. Increases in bycatch in 2009 will jeopardize the survival of these young fish.