A Closer Look at Northern Cod: FAIRNESS
June 8, 2026
Fairness does not mean treating everyone the same, rather it means treating people equally or in a way that is right or reasonable.
The data below was provided in April by DFO as part of the cod advisory. It shows that 2J inshore harvesters (the < 50 ft fleet) and offshore harvesters (the > 50 ft fleet) are more dependent on cod than their fellow harvesters in 3KL. It also shows that 2J inshore license holders have a total income from fishing that is higher than that of 3K inshore license holders. The income for 3L inshore and offshore license holders is higher than their counterparts in 2J and 3K, and that is driven by crab. Generally, crab quotas are higher in 3L than in 2J and 3K right now. But harvesters in 3L still rely on cod, particularly inshore license holders (and their crews).
This is why fairness matters. Each NAFO division, inshore and offshore, will rely on cod at different levels over time. Northern cod is migratory and assessed and managed by DFO as a single stock in NAFO divisions 2J3KL.
Note that the 2J incomes from fishing do not include royalties earned from shrimp allocations.
2025 Data
| 2J | 3KL | |
|---|---|---|
| # active harvesters | 75 | 1,071 |
| Allocation (lb) | 9,852,357 | 55,827,086 |
| Pounds per active harvester | 131,365 | 52,126 |
| 2J inshore | 3K inshore | 3L inshore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total income from fishing | $156,000 | $139,000 | $235,000 |
| Income from fishing cod | $83,000 | $37,000 | $33,000 |
| 2J offshore | 3K offshore | 3L offshore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total income from fishing | $674,000 | $883,000 | $1.8 million |
| Income from fishing cod | $125,000 | $122,000 | $56,000 |