Canada: Union, science and government concerns about northern cod brought forth to federal government

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans is considering concerns about the restarting of the commercial northern cod fishery in 2024 after a 24-year moratorium. The controversy stems from the shift from a stewardship fishery, which was limited to inshore harvesters, to a commercial fishery that allows both Canadian and foreign offshore fleets to participate. Witnesses, including the president-elect of FFAW-Unifor and a fisheries scientist, have voiced worries about the potential negative impact on the already depleted cod stock, which was blamed on offshore fishing in the past. They also express concern over the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) lowering the limit reference point for the stock's health, arguing it gives a false sense of recovery and increases the likelihood of stock decline. Provincial politicians and other stakeholders have also weighed in, highlighting the potential economic impact on inshore harvesters and questioning the necessity of mobile bottom trawlers in fishing northern cod. The committee is considering these concerns alongside the science and data provided by experts, as debates around quotas, access, and the precautionary approach to fishery management continue.