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Fisheries
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Success
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Northern
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35/u C- 0E6 K1A Branch Oceans by: and Ontario STORY COD Published Communications Ottawa, Fisheries GP8O/OO5E SUCCESS
ocE OC1L,1S ANt FISHERIES ET NORTHERN A LIBRJy FIstJEpJ2s BIBLIOTJQ1J -r.
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© Minister of Supply snd Services Csnsda 1980 Cst.No. F523—371980 ISBW 0—662—50944—7
‘A NORTHERN COD
A FISHERIES SUCCESS STORY
There are few success stories in the Canadian fishery to match the recovery of the northern cod stock off Newfoundland and Labrador since Canada imposed its 200-mile economic management zone on January 1, 1977. Under the management of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, catches of northern cod increased from 79,581 metric tonnes in 1977 to 130,705 metric tonnes in 1979. The northern cod stock, located off the coast of Labrador and northern Newfoundland, is the largest of the Atlantic stocks, and is replenished by eggs and larvae which drift southward on the Labrador current. As the fish mature, they migrate north, and seasonally go inshore to feed. Their inshore migration alters from year to year and is affected by such circumstances as water temperature, variations in the Labrador current and the migration of their prey, the capelin. When inshore water temperatures remain low because of ice conditions or weather changes, the cod tend to stay in the north where the water is warmer near the bottom. Although regular inshore migration takes place in early to mid—June, this movement is sometimes delayed (as in 1980) until later in the month if inshore water temperatures remain low. —2— With the extension of its fisheries jurisdiction in 1977, Canada introduced strict Total Allowable Catches to permit the stock to rebuild quickly. The results of this sound management approach are evident in the statistics on landings: inshore catches increased from 35,000 metric tonnes in 1974 to about 90,000 metric tonnes in 1979, and catches by the Canadian offshore fleet increased from approximately 1,000 metric tonnes in 1975 to 45,000 metric tonnes in 1980. Management of Canada’s coastal fisheries is entrusted to the Government of Canada by the British North America Act of 1867. Until the first half of this century, Canada’s coastal
jurisdiction encompassed only a three—mile limit. Following World War II, new technology and world food pressures brought to Canada’s coastal waters large fishing fleets from both traditional fishing nations and other countries, which had not previously operated off Canadian shores. Because it lacked jurisdiction, Canada was unable to properly manage the fish stocks beyond the three-mile limit during the early 1950s, when unrestrained effort by foreign
fishing fleets brought the northern cod stocks to a very low point.
CANADA’S INITIATIVE PAYS OFF
In the late 1950s, Canada realized that concentrated overfishing by foreign fleets was placing great stress on its fisheries, and this country took the initiative at the 1958 and of to the the as or phase Bay 1975, the cent a for it its Entrance. for Canada created with By on sea extended the as per developing also 1964 was 40 zones. Dixon adversely before Atlantic well beyond gradually a species. in approval sea states. as to and had with all Lawrence, been for Conference Commission international zone Canada international territorial negotiations fishing step gained for St. Northwest issues, have order which the ICNAF Strait coastal year in of in obtain these Nations fishing 1972 the for territorial for Catch groundfish, to of same these would in undertook Gulf Hecate exclusive waters. -3- International (now through Canada for The on United the convened, limit both the of decision rights In lowable the in exclusive at these was Canada Sound, sea. country Al fisheries Third in keeping fishing progress conferences 12-mile agreement Fisheries zones this within the a Canadian Total Sea whose (UNCLOS) 1970, failures make nine—mile practice. set the establishment preferential foreign Charlotte 1973 a time, in this the to secured territorial Sea In in to fishing With in Organization) Working operations Atlantic of by of the same had Queen the miles on countries Law of their the 12 affected established international Northwest reduction to principle agree Canada agreement exclusive reduction 1960 Law three-mile At out Fisheries Fundy, other conferences as of to the the the LOS west this to state In its extended rights and the itself This along to the of respect Through to Within effective and Canadian east coastal fisheries, capacity Azores, nations’ with of Maritimes-based with fishery. deliberations the its the the surplus UNCLOS. the subject zone. management and reserve lack cod other at extensively to had inshore resources the to that regulation. to resources. emerged yearly it stocks cod extended accordance and and has economic complete as fished right in INTEREST emerged owing northern Mediterranean. twice negotiations marine these agreed obtaining arrangements. cured Newfoundland -4- of have the harvest had Canada the the in Catch was resolution, over control offshore miles the these to in vessels it and both exclusive consensus with that depleted 1977 for would 200 sometimes both WIDESPREAD 1, state to time, states Spain sending and Allowable Scotian utilization state save international issues coupled instrumental 200—mile Throughout severely jurisdiction same to zones consensus and a coastal other January participated Nova Total main under yearly was international to the On been Traditionally, coastal made Labrador, Portugal, state the have the an under allow At issues. fishing had l800s, of fisheries, the of was of successive coastal agreement one take. these conservation UNCLOS should zone needs, international delegation over move early coast much which vessels management Madeira, coast cod
was
the
stock
caught tonnes,
of
that
caught
total,
metric 25
and
vessels
This
and
of
of
metric was
In cod
subsidies
northern and the
Labrador cent
ships
cod
metric
cent
Gulf
of 45,000
Maritimes
vessels
per and
17,000
years.
Program
offshore
of
15
per the
90
northern federal
tonnes.
vessels 7,400 cent
offshore two
Newfoundland
in
81
northern of
the
caught quota per
than
1980.
times-based or offshore
the
and
both for
metric
caught
in these
82
part.
in
fish
also
Marl
Newfoundland
more
cod,
or
Displacement
to
approximately
took
Scotia 8,442
offshore
off
sh
—5—
assistance
having
that
during
fishing
while
vessels
Program,
or
engaged
Maritimes-based
Newfoundland-based
with
began
the trawlers Nova
tonnes,
again northern
10
when
ports
noting
species
Groundfi
of
cent, off
Canadian
vessels
with
Newfoundland-based
vessels
filled,
landings,
metric all
Incentive
the
1980, per
the
compared
vessels
worth
Canadians
Newfoundland
of
tonnes
19
1979,
May is
1976—77
35
under
almost 1979,
after
35,400
In
In
When groundfish
It
Approximately Newfoundland cent.
in
Fishery
offshore
catch
in
and
metric of
in
was
Newfoundland—based
per
Maritimes-based
grants
remaining Lawrence.
caught
18
and Northern
offshore tonnes the Canadian Newfoundland—based 35,569 tonnes St. terminated Maritimes—based
had with
Canadian or fishery year, vessels landed in
the
for
be
the
owners
to
of
fish a
in
of
catches
to
a
zone
maximum
on
of
burgeoning
should
markets
stock whose
given
the
the its
only its
fleets
tonnes
obtained
new
the
Allowing
policy
Catch is been two-thirds approximately
for 1980
be
to
allocated
exporter
unload
inside
vessels,
In has
metric
to
permit
foreign
must
cent
access
to FISHERMEN agreements.
by
nations.
markets
Allowable allocated
countries largest
management per
fishing
fishery
fleets.
700,000
gain
10
approximately
find outlets
been
level,
Total
to
—6— INSHORE
of
foreign
than
world’s
advantageous
has
bilateral harvested
these foreign
must
Maritimes-based inshore
the
those
FOR to
fish—hungry
to
the by of
by
of and more
government’s
The
that
leverage
now
with
fishery
allocation
approximately
taken
Some
rms
conservative is
amount
PRIORITY
alone,
quantities
value,
with
a
an
pursuant
landings
federal economically
allocation
affi
with
were
at
rebuild.
the
1968
small
offshore tons. The with The
Canada
some
to
more cod
of cod dollar
Canada
In fleets
cooperation
cent,
it
The
of
production.
fish.
Newfoundland.
per
25,000
included in
found
established northern priority,
foreign 25 1960s. is
fraction fish continue
TAC. northern
relatively terms its
through provides to follow basis would and Canadian The to the catches the of on province quotas. a fleets. inshore manage of Newfoundland years. flexibility approximately prospects not allocated for the fishing five the be their “provincial” does for to resource scope the of must reserving of TAC since four —7— usive Canada of cod basis jeopardize of stocks needs provides next exci the and policy the the fish the provinces, on northern reduced. as to fishery and over all be Government fishery the fish fishery of from the Access The inshore sectors double would government’s coast fish fleet least fishermen Designating federal east balkanize Labrador the two-thirds of at
quotas Canadian from arrangements cooperative under MT landed 6,523 includes
**
65’ over vessels
*
(Forecast)
365,000 1935
173,153 132,993 47,031 85,682 40,160** 1979
139,000 36,000 103,000 21,000 82,000 1978
172,630 93,069 79,561 7,000 73,000 1977
214,220 151,229 62,991 3,000 60,000 1976
287,508 245,026 42,482 1,000 41,000 1975
372,647 336,567 36,080 1,000 35,000 1974
Canadian Inshore Offshore*
Tota1 Foreign Total Canadian Canadian Year
tonnes) (metric
3KL) 2J (NAFO Division +
LANDINGS COO NORTHERN