FAW-Unifor Calls for Fair and Sustainable Management in Northern Cod Fishery

June 2, 2025
ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) has submitted its recommendations for the 2025 Northern Cod fishery, urging Minister Joanne Thompson to prioritize fairness, sustainability, and the economic well-being of Newfoundland and Labrador’s inshore fishers and communities.
“Minister Thompson’s decision on the 2025 northern cod fishery will set the tone for her leadership over this vital industry. We hope the Minister will prioritize the coastal communities of the province she was elected to represent by ensuring that decisions reinforce past promises and prioritize the economic sustainability of the owner-operator fishery,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. “Previous decisions on the northern cod fishery have fractured relationships and extinguished trust in federal fisheries management. We hope Minister Thompson will set the tone for a new era of collaborative fisheries management decisions.”
TAC Recommendation for 2025
Based on the robust 2024 catch rates, a 15% increase in spawning stock biomass (from 444,000t to 524,000t), and the stock’s position near the healthy zone (approximately two times the Limit Reference Point), the FFAW-Unifor Cod Working Group recommends a 2025 inshore allocation of 35,000t, with 30,000t allocated for 2J3KL. This includes 3,014t for 2J fixed gear, 26,379t for 3KL fixed gear, and a minimum of 707t for the <65’ mobile gear fleet. This recommendation balances the stock’s capacity to sustain higher harvests with the inshore fishery’s ability to support rural economies.
Upholding the 115,000 t Commitment
FFAW-Unifor strongly urges the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to honour the longstanding commitment to allocate the first 115,000 t of directed Canadian access to inshore harvesters and Indigenous groups in Newfoundland and Labrador. The 2024 decision to reintroduce Canadian offshore draggers (>100 ft) and international fleets, despite a TAC of only 19,000 t (17% of the promised threshold), undermined this commitment and increased risks to the stock’s recovery.
Restoring Historical Share for <65’ Mobile Gear Fleet
FFAW-Unifor calls for the reinstatement of a historical allocation for the <65’ mobile gear fleet, which was excluded from the 2024 management decision despite a consistent allocation from 1982 to 1991, averaging 2.02% of the Canadian TAC. For 2025, FFAW proposes a minimum allocation of 707t for this fleet, based on a projected Canadian TAC of 35,000 t. This allocation should be explicitly noted in the 2025 decision, separate from the inshore fixed gear allocation, to recognize the fleet’s historical role and ensure fairness.
Addressing Allocation Disparities in 2J and 3KL
FFAW-Unifor highlights the urgent need to address the significant disparity in cod allocations between the 2J and 3KL regions. In 2024, 2J harvesters were allocated 45,000 lb per license, while 3KL harvesters received only 11,600 lb—roughly one-quarter of the 2J amount. Despite 2J receiving 20% of the inshore quota with just 6% of the licenses, the 2024 allocation of 3,014 t supported a successful 14-week fishery for 2J harvesters and plant workers. Meanwhile, 3KL harvesters face economic challenges, exacerbated by a 20% crab quota cut in 3K inshore and 25% offshore in 2025. FFAW recommends that any increase in the 2025 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) be directed to 3KL inshore harvesters to narrow this gap, while maintaining the 2J allocation at 3,014t.
Next Steps
FFAW-Unifor is calling for a timely 2025 management decision to allow sufficient time for stakeholders to develop recommendations for the Conservation Harvesting Plan. A prompt decision will ensure that inshore harvesters, plant workers, and coastal communities can plan effectively for a sustainable and equitable fishery.
“Our Union is seeking an urgent in-person meeting with Minister Thompson and senior DFO officials to discuss why this proposal must be given the utmost priority when making decisions for the 2025 northern cod fishery,” Street concludes.
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