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DFO Continues to Defend Decision for Commercial Northern Cod Fishery Despite Best Science and Policy

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DFO Continues to Defend Decision for Commercial Northern Cod Fishery Despite Best Science and Policy
August 13, 2024

In a letter dated August 7th to Hon. Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party; MP Lisa-Marie Barron; and Mary Shortall, Special Advisor; Minister Lebouthillier doubles down on justifying why DFO had to maintain commitments to NAFO with the movement of the Northern cod stock from the Critical to Cautious Zone.

However, it was completely within the department’s authority to maintain the Stewardship Fishery with science and policy guiding the management plan. Instead, they chose a clear political passage by re-opening the Commercial Fishery to allow Canadian and International draggers.

This is NOT sound resource management. This is political pandering.

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Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.