2007 Survey of the Recreational Cod Fishery of
Newfoundland and Labrador

Survey Overview

The 2007 Survey of the Recreational Cod Fishery of Newfoundland and Labrador was the first survey specifically designed to collect information on this fishery.  In his June 22^nd News Release announcing the opening dates of the fishery, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Loyola Hearn, indicated that a post-season survey of the fishery would be conducted.  The season was closed as of October 8th and the survey began October 18^th. Bristol Group of St. John’s conducted interviews over a three-week period, ending November 8th.

The number of households sampled within each of Statistics Canada’s Census Divisions of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) are provided in the table below:

Table 1 : Sample Sizes, by Census Division, 2007

Census Divisions	Households Sampled
Division 1 - Avalon Peninsula	1,409
Division 2 - Burin	404
Division 3 - South Coast	405
Division 4 - Southwest	401
Division 5 - West Central	405
Division 6 - Central	405
Division 7 - Bonavista	407
Division 8 - Northeast Coast	409
Division 9 - Northern Peninsula	406
Division 10 - Labrador	404
Total	5,055

For ease of reporting survey results, based on the residence of anglers in the province, the 10 Statistics Canada’s Census Divisions were grouped into six geographic or coastal areas as provided below:

Table 2 : Sample Sizes, by Residence Area, 2007

Residence area	Households Sampled
Avalon Peninsula (Div. 1)	1,409
Burin - South Coast (Div. 2, 3)	809
West NL - Northern Peninsula (Div. 4, 5 9)	1,212
Central - NE Coast (Div. 6, 8)	814
Bonavista - Trinity (Div. 8)	407
Labrador (Div. 10)	404
Total	5,055

As shown in Appendix B, the survey collected information on:

• Household composition: males and females, under 16 years of age and those 16 years of age and older and the number of anglers in each of the four household groups
• Fishing activity
  
  • total days fished for cod by males and females under age 16;
  • total number of cod caught by these anglers (retention was mandatory);
  • the nearest town, bay or NAFO area where most of their activity occurred;
  • a randomly selected individual 16 years of age and older who fished for cod was asked:
    
    • the number of days fished;
    • the number of cod caught;
    • the nearest town, bay or NAFO area where most of their activity occurred;
    • if any wolffish were caught when fishing for cod and, if so, the number caught and the number successfully released back into the water; and
    • their age (sex was recorded based on the respondent selected).

Appendix A provides a more detailed description of the survey methodology as well as indicators of data quality and statistical reliability of key variables.