Atlantic Cod - Laurentian North

At A Glance

For many years, cod was the most important groundfish species in Atlantic Canada. However, population numbers of Laurentian North Atlantic cod have declined by approximately 80 percent in the past 30 years. Current threats to the Laurentian North Atlantic cod population include natural and fishing-induced changes to the ecosystem, fishing and high levels of natural mortality due to predators such as seals.

About the Laurentian North Atlantic cod

Atlantic cod spawn offshore in the spring at depths of approximately 250-300 metres where the water is warmer than the zero to -1°C temperatures found at lesser depths. The fish then gradually migrate inshore to their feeding grounds. Young Atlantic cod feed mostly on invertebrates such as shrimp. As they get larger they feed on almost anything including sea anemones but mainly capelin and other fish, including young cod.

How to recognize Atlantic cod

The most recent peak in cod landings occurred in the early to mid-1980s when total catch hit 425,000 tonnes. Most of the production centred off eastern Newfoundland and Labrador where the northern cod was plentiful. Since then, however, landings have declined dramatically.

Bob Semple

Where Laurentian North Atlantic cod live

This population of Atlantic cod inhabits the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and waters off the south coast of Newfoundland.

Why it’s at risk

The Laurentian North Atlantic cod population collapsed primarily because of overexploitation. Today, threats to this population of Atlantic cod include natural and fishing-induced changes in the ecosystem, fishing and high levels of mortality due to natural predators such as seals and other fish.

Read About : What’s Holding Back the Cod Recovery?

What’s being done

The Laurentian North Atlantic cod is designated as threatened by COSEWIC and is under consideration for addition to the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Strong conservation measures are already in place for the Laurentian North population of Atlantic cod including limits on bycatch in other fisheries and restrictions on the commercial cod fisheries in 3Ps and 4RS3Pn fishing areas, with Total Allowable Catch limits of 15,000 tonnes and 5,000 tonnes respectively. Fishing levels in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Pierre Bank, are very low and closely regulated.

Work is underway to determine stock rebuilding objectives and to implement the recovery measures of the Federal-Provincial cod action recovery teams.

Any further restrictions would be in addition to the already significant conservation measures in place for cod throughout the Atlantic region, including:

• implementation of three Federal-Provincial cod action teams which are preparing and implementing recovery strategies for these cod populations;
  
• severely reduced harvest levels to historical low levels in areas where fishing is permitted;
  
• restrictions on the incidental catching of cod in other fisheries, including caps and the closure of other fisheries when the caps are reached;
  
• the mandatory requirement for conservation harvesting plans to be prepared by fishers and approved by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans before fishing is undertaken.

What can you do?

Atlantic cod will get the protection they need only if all Canadians work together to reduce threats. Find out more about Atlantic cod and be aware of man-made threats. Do your best to reduce these threats wherever possible to better protect the cod’s critical habitat. Get involved with the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk (HSP) or another conservation organization.