2007 Survey of the Recreational Cod Fishery of Newfoundland and Labrador

Harvest - Cod

In 2007, anglers of all ages caught 1.2 million cod in the NL recreational cod fishery (Table 12). As indicated above, anglers under 16 years of age accounted for about 11% of the angling population. These anglers caught an average of about 10 fish each, totalling just over 78,000 cod and accounting for only about 6.5% of the total catch. Anglers 16 years of age and older caught about 17 fish on average each, with a total catch of just over 1.1 million cod being harvested. Anglers under 16 years of age living in the Burin-South Coast area caught the most cod on average, at almost 14 fish each, while those living in the West NL-N. Peninsula area caught the fewest on average at about 8 fish each.

Adult anglers (those 16+) living in the Bonavista-Trinity area caught the most cod on average at 22 fish each. The total catch for these anglers accounted for almost 234,000 cod, or almost 21% of the total catch by adult anglers. Adult anglers living in the West NL-N. Peninsula had the lowest average harvest of just over 12 fish each. Their total catch of under 73,500 fish accounted for around 6.5% of the total cod harvest, Only adult anglers living in Labrador accounted for fewer fish being harvested in the 2007 recreational cod fishery, although anglers harvested almost 15 fish each.

Over 60% of all cod caught was harvested from NAFO sub-division 3L, with an average of 18 fish caught by each angler fishing in this sub-division (Table 13). Anglers under 16 years of age caught about 49,600 cod in sub-division 3L, accounting for almost 64% of all cod harvested by younger anglers. The lowest number of cod caught in any NAFO sub-division was 11,555 fish, or an average of 10 per angler, in sub-division 2J. These fish represented less than 1% of the total number of cod harvested in the 2007 Newfoundland and Labrador recreational cod fishery.

It should be noted that the daily personal limit for cod in the 2007 recreational fishery was 5 fish.  As indicated earlier, the total number of days the fishery was open was 35. In total, therefore, anglers could have taken 175 fish each. Given there were over 73,400 anglers who fished, the theoretical total harvest would have been about 12,845,000 cod. The harvest estimated from the survey represents less than 10% of the total theoretical harvest, demonstrating a responsible, tempered harvest for the 2007 recreational cod fishery.

As can be seen in Figure 4, over 19,000 adult anglers (29.6% of all anglers) caught between 1 and 5 fish each in 2007. About 3,200 adult anglers (< 5%) took more than 50 fish each. Although anglers could have taken 175 fish for the season, the maximum number of cod taken was 140 fish by an estimated 50 anglers. Again, activity by anglers demonstrated a responsible exploitation of the recreational cod fishery.

Anglers caught an average of 4 fish per day, or 1 less than the limit to which they were entitled (Table 14). Younger anglers averaged 3.4 fish each per day, with those living on the Avalon Peninsula taking the highest number of cod per day per angler at 3.9 fish each.  The lowest number of cod taken per day by younger anglers was by those residing in the West NL-N. Peninsula area of the province (2.5 fish per day). Adult anglers living in the Bonavista-Trinity area took the most cod per day on average at 4.4 fish, while those living in the West NL-N. Peninsula area taking the lowest at 3.6 fish each per day.

Younger anglers fishing in NAFO sub-division 2J harvested the fewest cod per day, reporting just 2 fish per day per angler (Table 15). In contrast, younger anglers fishing in NAFO sub-division 3L took almost 4 cod each per day fished. In the more heavily fished NAFO sub-divisions (3K, 3L), adult anglers caught around 4 fish each per day fished. Despite its relatively small area, adult anglers in 3Pn reported taking the highest number of cod per day each at 4.6 fish. Those adult anglers fishing in NAFO sub-division 4R harvested the lowest number of fish per day each (3.6 fish).

About 6% of adult anglers who fished caught no cod at all. Almost 50% of adult anglers who fished caught their limit of 5 fish per day fished. These adult anglers accounted for 47% of days fished and almost 58% of all cod harvested.

Almost 52% of all cod harvested by adult anglers were taken by anglers fishing six days or less (Figure 5). These anglers accounted for over 50% of the total effort expended in 2007 fishing for cod in the recreational cod fishery of NL. Anglers who fished 20 days fished for a total of almost 37,000 days and caught a total of almost 135,000 cod (or just under 4 each per day) 

Based on the estimated total number of cod harvested (1.2 million), we can further estimate the approximate weight of cod caught in 2007. Using an average weight of cod of 2.02 kilograms as estimated by C&P, the weight of cod harvested in the recreational cod fishery was about 2,438 tonnes. Table 16 shows the number and the approximate weight of cod landed by NAFO sub-division.