Archived – Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Takes Strong New Action to Protect Fish Stocks and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

September 25, 2009

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Bergen, Norway – The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) announced today the closures of 11 sponge and coral areas to bottom fishing, as well as the re-opening of a directed fishery for 3M cod (the Flemish Cap) in the NAFO Regulatory Area, outside Canada’s 200-mile limit, and red fish in Divisions 3LN.

“I’m proud of the work accomplished by our Canadian delegation at NAFO,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. “The progress made in Norway is a testament to Canada’s ongoing efforts on the world stage to adopt an ecosystem-based approach and to improve the conservation and long-term sustainability of international fisheries.”

NAFO has undertaken extensive analysis and research in recent years to identify and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in its Regulatory Area, working to define its footprint (existing bottom fishing areas) and developing an exploratory protocol to prevent damage to as yet untouched sensitive habitats. The closures announced today aim to protect 11 concentrations of coral and sponges and build on this extensive work to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems from significant adverse impacts from bottom fishing.

The closures for sponge and coral concentrations adopted by NAFO are the first of their kind in the North Atlantic. They cover approximately 2,500 square nautical miles, roughly one and a half times the size of Prince Edward Island.

The re-opening of the 3M cod (Flemish Cap) and 3LN red fish fisheries in the NAFO Regulatory Area, outside Canada’s 200-mile limit, follows years of strict measures to rebuild these stocks and comes ten years after they were placed under NAFO moratorium. To ensure that the re-opening is carried out responsibly and with a view to the long-term sustainability of the stock, Canada was instrumental in setting important additional measures for the fishery, including: total quota management, and a 5% by-catch limit for members without a 3M cod or a 3LN red fish quota allocation.

In addition, several other stocks currently under NAFO moratorium, such as American Plaice, are showing signs of recovery that are encouraging to fishery managers and the industry. Re-opening these fisheries is a signal to NAFO Contracting Parties that their efforts must continue and that, with sufficient time and precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches, we can effectively ensure the long-term sustainability of all fish stocks and preserve the economic opportunities on which our coastal communities depend.

“NAFO Contracting Parties have agreed to redouble their efforts to further reduce cod by-catch in Divisions 3NO,” said David Balfour, Head of the Canadian delegation. “We are encouraged by the level of commitment of NAFO Members to ensure the recovery of stocks important to Canada.”

Due to ongoing uncertainty over the status of the Greenland halibut stock, the total allowable catch was maintained at 16,000 tonnes for one year, with an agreement to establish a working group of fisheries managers and scientists to address some of this uncertainty and develop a risk management framework to help inform future management decisions for Greenland halibut. Contracting Parties have also agreed to additional investments in research to close the knowledge gap, and have reaffirmed their commitment to working together to ensure accurate catch reporting going forward.

For more information about these and other measures, consult the attached backgrounder. More information will also be communicated as it becomes available in the coming days and weeks. Visit www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca and www.nafo.int often to find out more.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Cantin
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-993-5413

John W. Morris
Minister’s Office
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, ON
613-992-3474

 

NR-HQ-09-42E

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Backgrounder:

• Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Measures For 2009-2010
  September 25, 2009