New sustainability assessment makes recommendations to grow northern cod stock

ST. JOHN'S, April 21, 2016 /CNW/ - An independent assessment completed by SAI Global on behalf of WWF-Canada and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) confirms that the Newfoundland northern cod stock has grown significantly since 2006, but cautions that numbers are far below what they were during the peak commercial success of the fishery.

In 2015, FFAW-Unifor, the Seafood Producers of Newfoundland and Labrador, Fogo Island Co-op and WWF-Canada agreed to work together to rebuild the fishery off Newfoundland's northeast coast, also referred to as area 2J3KL, through a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP). The multi-year collaborative project is designed to improve the fishery so that it may one day reach the sustainability benchmark set by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The project has the support of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture as well as Oceans and Fisheries Canada.

Comparing the fishery's performance against 28 indicators of the MSC Fisheries Standard, the assessment identified several issues. A FIP Action Plan will be developed to address the following:

• The rebuilding timeframe for the stock must be established.
• Target reference points must be determined.
• Explicit harvest control rules must be established.
• Estimates will be required for the recreational cod catch.

David Miller, president and CEO of WWF-Canada, said:

"WWF-Canada is pleased to see that northern cod is showing quite spectacular signs of recovery. There is a lot of work that needs to be done, but with the stock health improvements we've seen so far, we are confident that the comprehensive Fisheries Improvement Project we're undertaking along with FFAW-Unifor and other partners will help build on these positive trends."

Keith Sullivan, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union of Newfoundland and Labrador, said:

"The increase in productivity of this stock in recent years suggests that it's not too early to start thinking about how a future fishery should be pursued. A viable, sustainable fishery contributes to vibrant rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. We need to put measures in place now to enable the stock to further grow and plan for the future of the fishery. In partnership with WWF-Canada, this Fisheries Improvement Project can help us achieve these goals."

BACKGROUND

Northern (2J3KL) cod

• The northern (2J3KL) cod fishery has been under a moratorium on commercial fishing since 1992.
• An inshore stewardship fishery for cod continues to gather fishery-dependent data for science assessments for Oceans and Fisheries Canada. Reported landings in the 2015 stewardship fishery were 3,016 tonnes.
• Recreational fishers are also permitted to a maximum catch of 15 fish per boat per day. There are no requirements to report recreational landings.
• The northern cod spawning stock biomass increased from a three year average of 19 per cent of the limit reference point (LRP) in 2011-2013 to the three year average of 26 per cent in 2012-14. The stock has remained below the LRP since the early 1990s.

Correction: The northern cod spawning stock biomass data was incorrect in a previous version.

What happens next in the northern cod Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP)

• Based on the pre-assessment findings, a scoping document will identify strategies to address areas of concern. This will ensure that a FIP Action Plan of improvement can be developed with relevant stakeholders.
• The FIP runs until 2020. If conditions are favorable and improvement measures implemented, the fishery could enter a full assessment for certification by the MSC.

About the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

• The MSC runs the only wild-capture fisheries certification and eco-labeling program that meets best practice requirements set by both the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and ISEAL, the global membership association for sustainability standards.
• MSC certified fisheries are reviewed annually and recertified every five years. MSC Standards and scheme requirements are also reviewed regularly.
• To achieve the MSC Fisheries Standard, fisheries that voluntarily enter into independent, third-party assessment must meet 28 performance indicators for sustainability across three principles: 1) Sustainable fish stocks; 2) Minimizing environmental impacts; and 3) Effective management.
• When developing a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), it is necessary to have a good understanding of the issues that a fishery faces and where it falls short of meeting the MSC Fisheries Standard. A MSC pre-assessment uses 28 performance indicators to provide a baseline determination of how the fishery performs relative to each of the indicators within the MSC Fisheries Standard.

About the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) represents more than 12,000 working women and men throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, most of whom are employed in the fishing industry. We also have members working in the hotel, hospitality, brewing, metal fabrication, window manufacturing and oil industries. For more information, visit ffaw.nf.ca.

About WWF-Canada

WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that wildlife, nature and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca.

SOURCE WWF-Canada

Image with caption: "FFAW-Unifor (CNW Group/WWF-Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160421_C6113_PHOTO_EN_672697.jpg

Image with caption: "WWF Canada (CNW Group/WWF-Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160421_C6113_PHOTO_EN_672698.jpg

Philippe Devos, Director of communications and media, WWF-Canada, [phone], [email protected]; Jessica McCormick, Communications Officer, FFAW-Unifor, [phone], [email protected]