10/16/2018
This afternoon, DFO approved FFAW’s request to reopen the northern cod stewardship fishery for all fish harvesters next week, starting on October 21, 2018. DFO also announced that this reopening will have lower weekly limits for harvesters.
“We are pleased DFO will be reopening the fishery for all harvesters, however we would have liked to have seen higher weekly limits during this week,” said FFAW-Unifor President Keith Sullivan.
Regular season fishers will have a limit of 1750 lbs for the week while fall fishing option fishers will have 3500 lbs for the week.
Last week, DFO closed the northern cod stewardship fishery to all fish harvesters except for those who selected the fall fishery option due to 87% of the TAC being landed at that point. Despite this closure, there is still fish available under the TAC which supports a one week reopening.
The 2018 northern cod fishery has been successful for inshore harvesters in our province. Northern cod landings came in at a much higher rate than anticipated by, which is a very good indicator for the health of the stock. Removals by the stewardship fishery have been ultraconservative with no impact on the overall stock trajectory. All bait fisheries this year including squid and capelin were immensely successful this season and are also positive signs for the northern cod stock.
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FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA
NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS
nf.18.352B, 2018-386
Oct. 16, 2018
2018 Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery: Reopening in NAFO Divisions 3KL
Landings for the 2018 2J3KL Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery totaled 9,043t for the period up to and including Monday, October 15th.
The Department advises harvesters that the Stewardship Fishery will reopen Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 0600 hrs to the following vessel classes:
A283 and A295
The Department also advises that the Stewardship Fishery will close to all vessel classes, including A296 Fall Fishers, as of Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 1800hrs (6pm).
The base authorized weekly limits in 3KL commencing Sunday, October 21st will be:
Regular Season Fishers = 1750 lbs/week
Fall Fishing Option Fishers = 3500 lbs/week
Licence conditions reflecting the new weekly limits will be available to harvesters via the National Online Licensing System in the coming days.
Consistent with the provisions of the 2018 Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP), this reduction in the base authorized weekly limit is necessary to ensure that the total harvest remains within the maximum authorized harvest amount of 9,500t.
The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2018-384 has been revoked and Variation Order 2018-386 come into effect on October 17, 2018.
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For information, contact:
Julie Diamond
Resource Management
Tel. (709) 772-0695
E-mail: Julie.diamond@dfo-mpo.gc.ca