FFAW Calls for Improved Inshore Science Following 3Ps Cod Stock Assessment

ST. JOHN’S, NL – FFAW-Unifor is calling for improved inshore scientific monitoring following today’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) stock assessment for 3Ps cod, which reported a 38 per cent decline in biomass despite excellent summer fishing reported by inshore harvesters in areas of Placentia Bay and Fortune Bay.

Spring Surveys and Seasonal Fish Distribution

DFO’s assessment indicates that the stock remains at historically low levels, with poor recruitment and limited recovery potential. These conclusions are largely based on DFO’s spring research vessel surveys, which take place before cod have historically migrated into inshore bays. These RV surveys provide important information about stock conditions, however these surveys cannot capture changes in the seasonal distribution and abundance of fish encountered by harvesters during the summer fishing season.

While FFAW recognizes that Atlantic cod in 3Ps continues to face significant challenges, the Union maintains that the experiences of inshore harvesters must be better reflected in the scientific assessment process.

Harvesters Report Excellent Fishing Conditions

3Ps fish harvester Alfred Fitzpatrick reported encountering more abundant fish across a wider range of sizes and locations during the past two seasons, including large cod in areas not typically covered by research vessel surveys.

“I think it’s in better shape than DFO realizes, and it’s in better shape than we realized,” said Fitzpatrick. “Everybody agrees with playing it safe and taking care of the stock, but I honestly don’t think the picture is as bad as what they have made out to be. There is a good stock of fish there to build on.”

Similar observations were reported by fish harvester Jamie Barnett, who said fishing conditions in Placentia Bay were so productive that a temporary closure was necessary to prevent the available quota from being caught.

“There’s fish there. We don’t think it’s as bad as the RV survey is saying because of the timing,” said Barnett.

Questions Remain Around Stock Estimates and Cod Migration

Barnett also raised concerns about the uncertainty surrounding DFO’s stock estimates, particularly given the Department’s acknowledgment that conflicting data could not be reconciled within its assessment model.

Questions remain regarding the movement of cod between inshore and offshore areas and with neighbouring stock areas. DFO acknowledged evidence of movement between 3Ps and 3L, but the extent of this movement and its implications for stock distribution was not discussed.

Barnett said he is “glad to see genetic work being done showing migration between 3Ps and 3L stocks” and suggested that research continue through commercial fisheries in both areas to better understand the extent of mixing between stocks.

Loss of Sentinel Fishery Highlights Need for More Science

The discontinuation of the sentinel fishery program is another significant concern. Sentinel surveys have historically provided valuable information from inshore areas, including biological data used in stock assessments. Without continued inshore monitoring, important gaps in scientific understanding risk becoming more pronounced.

“We need more science on it, not less,” said Fitzpatrick, emphasizing the need to better understand the distribution of cod throughout 3Ps.

FFAW maintains that a more comprehensive approach to stock assessment, incorporating seasonal fishing observations, expanded inshore monitoring and continued research into cod migration, is essential to understanding the condition of the 3Ps stock.

As DFO moves forward with its review of the 3Ps cod rebuilding plan and consultations on management for the 2027–28 fishing season, FFAW will continue advocating for science that reflects the full range of information available, including the firsthand knowledge and experiences of the harvesters who work on the water.