3Ps Stock Assessment Update Highlights Need to Ban Offshore Draggers and Address Predation
ST. JOHN’S, NL – 11/5/2024 – Today’s technical briefing by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on the 3Ps cod stock assessment delivered news that the south coast species has not experienced much growth in recent years, leaving harvesters concerned for the stock’s future and the impact the offshore dragger fishery is having on the stock’s recovery. FFAW is once again reiterating the need to ban factory draggers from all cod species in Newfoundland and Labrador, citing the continued and lasting damaged caused by draggers fishing on pre-spawning aggregations.
“3Ps harvesters are concerned about the future of the fishery and the impact offshore draggers and seal predation are having on the vulnerable south coast cod stock. The unknown distribution and impact of seals continues to affect our knowledge of the stock, while draggers operating during critical pre-spawning periods threaten any chance of stability,” says FFAW-Unifor Secretary-Treasurer, Jason Spingle.
The offshore fishery continues to operate during times of high aggregation pre-spawning periods – a time when the fish stock is most susceptible to destruction by draggers. As a result, the offshore component of the stock has continued to decrease disproportionately, impacting the resilience and productivity of the stock as a whole. This will have long-term implications on the stock’s growth, as offshore draggers decimation of spawning aggregations is also clearly seen in the 2J3KL stock recovery.
The offshore fishery continues to operate during times of high aggregation pre-spawning periods – a time when the fish stock is most susceptible to destruction by draggers.
“The impacts seals are having on this stock are not being taken into account in the assessment process. We’ve been told that grey seals are only in our bay later in the year, but we see them in the spring while lobster fishing,” explains Loretta Ward from Southeast Bight, who is an FFAW Inshore Council member that participated in the stock assessment last week. “More should be done to assess the impacts of this predation, as well as the increased predation of sharks, on the south coast,” Ward says.
“Addressing seal predation and removing fishing on pre-spawning aggregations is within our control. It’s time for those at the top of DFO including the current Minister and high-level bureaucrats to stop siding with offshore companies as this continues to fail our province at catastrophic levels, both environmentally and economically,” Spingle concludes.
