NLGIDC concerned with the recent announcement regarding Northern Gulf Cod

The Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council are concerned with the recent announcement regarding Northern Gulf Cod

St. John’s, NL, July 5, 2022. Similar to many NL fishing industry associations and the Province of NL, The Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council (NLGIDC) is also concerned with federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murry’s decision to place a one-year moratorium in the Northern Gulf Cod stock.

“This was a small fishery, however the total closure will have negative impacts on harvesters and processors as well as coastal communities on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Lower North Shore of Quebec,” says Jim Baird, the Chair Person of the NLGIDC.

This stock is reported to be deep in the critical zone of the Precautionary Approach Framework but the recent science assessments suggest that mortality from fishing is not an issue. Many industry participants believe that predation by seals on cod in this area is the main reason why this resource is not rebuilding.

The NLGIDC looks forward to hearing more about seal predation on important fish stocks in the coming months as DFO continues to address the recommendations included in the report of the Atlantic Seal Science Task Team.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council is an association comprised of fish harvesters, the FFAW and a number of NL fish processors, all representing almost 7,000 industry participants.

Contact
Jim Baird, Chair, NLGIDC
(709) 749-2421
[email protected]