Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

Purpose

The overall purpose of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization is to help its members work together and share knowledge to effectively manage and conserve the high seas fisheries resources of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Canada has played a key role in helping the Northwest Atlantic fisheries Organization become a strong and effective regional fisheries management organization.

Convention Area Top of Page

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Convention Area encompasses a large portion of the North Atlantic Ocean and includes the 200-mile exclusive economic zones of coastal States jurisdiction (Canada, Denmark in respect of Greenland, France in respect of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and the United States of America).

It applies to most fisheries resources of the Northwest Atlantic except stocks such as salmon, tuna and marlins, and whales that are managed by other regional fisheries management organizations, and sedentary species of the Continental Shelf.

Regulatory Area Top of Page

Regulatory action by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization is limited to those parts of the Convention Area beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

Species Managed Top of Page

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization covers the following straddling stocks: cod in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Divisions 3NO, redfish in 3LN and 3O, American plaice in 3LNO, yellowtail flounder in 3LNO, witch flounder in 3L and 3NO, white hake in 3NO, capelin in 3NO, skates in 3NO, Greenland halibut in 3LMNO, squid in sub-areas 3 & 4, and shrimp in 3L.

In addition, the organization manages discrete stocks on the Flemish Cap or 3M Division; cod, redfish, American plaice and shrimp.

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization also shares management with the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission of the oceanic redfish stock (sub-area 2 and Division 1F + 3K) that is found in the Convention Areas waters of both regional fisheries management organizations.

Contracting Parties Top of Page

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization currently comprises the following 12 Contracting Parties: Canada, Cuba, Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), European Union, France (in respect of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon), Iceland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the United States of America. The Secretariat (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization’s headquarters) is located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Achievements Top of Page

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization has achieved some important milestones to become a strong, modern, and effective regional fisheries management organization. The compliance of fishing vessels with the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization’s regulations has visibly increased, illegal, unreported and uncontrolled fishing has decreased, and some fish stocks are already showing signs of recovery. However, in spite of these advances as well as the approaches to fisheries management, the abundance of many traditional Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization fish stocks continues to be low, an indication that the rebuilding process will take time.

The organization has:

• adopted in 2007 amendments to the 1978 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Convention. The amendments have been ratified to date by Norway, Canada and the European Union. The entry into force of the amendments requires ratification by 9 of 12 Contracting Parties;
• completed a performance review of the organization and is scheduled to be submit its report and recommendations at the September 2011 annual meeting;
• advanced precautionary and ecosystem approaches among its members.
  • The successful implementation of the precautionary approach has allowed the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization to re-open two stocks: 3M cod and 3LN redfish which were previously under Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization moratoria.
  • At the 2009 annual meeting Contracting Parties agreed to engage in a process to develop a risk management approach for Greenland halibut. A Fisheries Commission Working Group, with representation from fisheries managers, scientists and industry representatives was established to develop a risk management framework based on management strategy evaluation. At the 2010 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization annual meeting, the Fisheries Commission adopted the recommendations from the Working Group. The new management strategy, which will be implemented over four years, is a rigorous scientific framework for the management and conservation of Greenland halibut to ensure its long-term recovery. 
  • The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization is committed to an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Its management includes provisions that minimize the harmful impact of fishing activities on living marine resources and marine ecosystems, and requirements that preserve marine bio-diversity. Its work protecting sensitive deepwater habitats such as seamounts and corals is one example of this. Supporting scientific research and advice is a major part of this organization’s mandate.
• strengthened its monitoring, control and surveillance systems.

Canada's Leadership RoleTop of Page

• Canada participates in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization activities both as an original Contracting Party and as a coastal State in the management of fish stocks that straddle our 200-mile limit and the discrete fish stocks that occur on the Flemish Cap.
• Canada has taken a strong leadership role to strengthen and reform Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization to reflect modern fisheries management principles.
• Canada provided the impetus for a regime shift of the Organization towards effective protection of key vulnerable marine ecosystems.
• Canada is a member of the Scientific Council, the body tasked with evaluating the risks and recommending mitigating measures to avoid significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area.
• In 2009, Canada led the production of a coral identification guide to improve at-sea identification of vulnerable marine ecosystems.
• Canada also advises on the total allowable catches and other management measures to protect species.

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