Archived – NAFO Measures for 2010-2011

September, 2010

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The following measures are adopted at the 2010 NAFO Annual Meeting:

Total Allowable Catches

Species:	Total Allowable Catch
American plaice (Division 3	No directed fishery
Cod (Divisions 3NO)	No directed fishery
Cod (Division 3M)	10,000t
Redfish (Division 3LN)	6,000t
Northern shrimp (Division 3L)	19,200t (2011); and 17,000 (2012)
Northern shrimp (Division 3M)	No directed fishery
Yellowtail flounder (Divisions 3LNO)	17,000t
White hake (Divisions 3LNO)	6,000t
Thorny skate (Divisions 3LNO)	12,000t
Greenland halibut (Divisions 2 + 3 KLMNO)	17,185t

Northern Shrimp

Following the advice of NAFO Scientific Council, Contracting Parties have agreed to a moratorium for the declining northern shrimp stock in Division 3M to allow the stock to re-build.

The total allowable catch for northern shrimp in Division 3L was also cut from 30,000t to 9,200t in 2011 and 17,000t in 2012 in response to scientific advice, which showed the stock’s spawning biomass in a declining trend since peaking in 2007.

Re-building of 3LNO American plaice and 3NO cod

At the 2010 Annual Meeting, NAFO reaffirmed its commitment to the Precautionary Approach and established a Working Group of Fishery Managers and Scientists tasked with developing and reviewing conservation plans and re-building strategies (CPRS) for 3NO cod and 3LNO American plaice – two stocks currently showing signs of recovery

Contracting Parties also adopted an interim conservation plan and re-building strategy for American plaice in Divisions 3LNO. These plans include harvest control rules and additional reference points to further support the efforts already under way and to provide more clarity and predictability for fisheries managers, industry, and observers alike.

The Working Group is expected to report back to the NAFO Fisheries Commission at the 2011 NAFO Annual Meeting.

Management Strategy Evaluation for Greenland halibut

In response to continued uncertainty about assessments of the Greenland halibut stock in Divisions 2 + 3KLMNO, NAFO established a working group in 2009 to develop an effective risk management approach for this stock. At the 2010 NAFO Annual Meeting, Contracting Parties agreed to implement such an approach. The approach sets clear harvest control rules that will limit year-to-year fluctuations in the total allowable catch and to support the rebuilding strategy for this stock. While Canada is somewhat disappointed that the TAC adopted by NAFO Contracting Parties is slightly higher than recommended by the NAFO Scientific Council, we welcome the predictability and clarity that this progressive approach will offer for the sustainable management of Greenland halibut.

Seamount closures

Six seamounts in the NAFO Regulatory Area are currently subject to a closure to bottom-contact fishing. These closures were set to expire on December 31, 2010. Following a proposal by Canada, NAFO Contracting Parties agreed to continue these closures, subject to a review by the Scientific Council in four years. The closed seamounts are:

• Fogo Seamounts 1 and 2;
• Orphan Knoll;
• Corner Seamounts;
• Newfoundland Seamounts; and
• New England Seamounts.

The closures aim to protect these sensitive marine ecosystems from the potentially significant, adverse impacts of bottom-contact fishing.
 

Protection of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

In 2008, NAFO established the Ad Hoc Working Group of Fishery Managers and Scientists on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. The work of this group was instrumental in the closures of 11 vulnerable marine ecosystems in the NAFO Regulatory Area at the 2009 NAFO Annual Meeting. It was agreed at the 2010 NAFO Annual Meeting that, in recognition of the need to continue this important work, the mandate of the Working Group would be renewed for an indefinite period.

NAFO has also adopted new measures that will require Contracting Parties to conduct assessments of the known and anticipated impacts of their respective bottom-fishing activities where those activities are to be conducted outside the fisheries footprint identified by the NAFO Fisheries Commission, or if there are significant changes or new scientific information regarding a previously assessed fishery.

Spanish and Canadian scientists also took the opportunity to present to NAFO delegates the preliminary results of the research they conducted on vulnerable marine ecosystems in 2009 and 2010 in the NAFO Regulatory Area. This research, also known as the NEREIDA Project, helped inform the creation of sponge and coral protection areas in 2009. Further analysis of the data collected will continue to inform NAFO decisions to protect these sensitive ecosystems into the future.

Compliance

NAFO Contracting Parties have once again strengthened the compliance framework by enhancing the inspection and catch reporting regimes. Specifically, the time allowed on-board for vessel inspections in the NAFO Regulatory Area has been increased from three to four hours, and the composition of inspection parties has been increased from two to four inspectors (maximum). This will allow for more thorough and timely inspections. Vessels fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area will also be required to report catches to NAFO on a daily basis, for all Divisions and all species.

Performance Review

In accordance with the 2006 United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries, NAFO is proceeding with a Performance Review in 2010-2011. NAFO Contracting Parties agreed on the terms of reference and the composition of a working group to oversee this process in a timely, effective and transparent manner. The Working Group will be composed of three external experts in fisheries management, fisheries science, and Law of the Sea matters, as well as internal experts from Canada, Denmark (in respect of Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, and the Russian Federation.

The Performance Review is expected to be completed by September 2011.

For additional information about decisions made at the 2010 NAFO annual meeting, visit www.nafo.int.

News Release:

• NAFO Takes Further Action to Rebuild Groundfish Stocks and to Protect Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

B-HQ-10-46E