Northern Cod Assessment Shows Stock in Healthy Zone

FFAW-Unifor is pleased with the results of the latest Northern cod stock assessment, which indicate the stock is in the healthy zone of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) Precautionary Approach Framework, with continued projected growth.

The most recent stock assessment for Northern cod was held in St. John’s from March 24–27, 2026. FFAW Senior Fisheries Scientist, Dr. Erin Carruthers attended the meeting alongside representative fleet chairs for the different 3KL fleets, with Steve Ryan, Corey Hunt, and Robert Traverse participating in-person. Fleet chairs from Southern Labrador (2J) were invited to the stock assessment but did not attend.

“We’re obviously pleased with the results of this assessment,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. “Harvesters have been reporting strong signs of rebuilding for a number of years, and it is important that the science reflects what is being seen on the water.”

Steve Ryan, a 3L fleet chair who fishes throughout 3KL during the fall fishery, reported that catch rates remained strong throughout the fall season, including in 3L.

“Everyone keeps saying the fish are mainly in the north, but that wasn’t our experience this fall,” Ryan says. “We were fishing around Bonavista and had strong catch rates right through until late November and early December. There were multiple boats fishing the same area and consistently catching fish, and we were marking a lot of cod on the sounder. On one trip we landed over 60,000 pounds in three days, which shows the strength of the fishing.”

FFAW-Unifor will meet with cod fleet chairs in advance of the northern cod groundfish advisory to review the results from the assessment and develop recommendations for the 2026-2027 fishing season. The Union maintains that decisions must continue to reflect both the science and the firsthand observations of harvesters who are on the water throughout the season.