Question Period Note: Northern Cod Management Plan

• Our government recognizes the cultural and economic importance of the Northern cod stock to fishers and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• We are ensuring that our fisheries, including cod, are viable and sustainable for future generations and that management decisions continue to be informed by science.
• The stock status for Northern cod has been relatively stable since 2017.
• The Department recently announced a maximum authorized harvest level of 12,999 tonnes. This is a 5 per cent increase from 2020 levels (12,350 tonnes), and is consistent with the harvest decision rule calculation , as per the Rebuilding Plan for this stock.

• The Limit Reference Point (LRP) for this stock was reviewed in January 2019 and was determined to be valid, therefore it remains unchanged.
• The last full stock assessment occurred on March 25-29, 2019 where the Northern Cod spawning stock biomass (SSB) was at 48% of the limit reference point (LRP), and therefore the stock remains in the critical zone of the DFO Precautionary Approach Framework.
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a full stock assessment did not occur, rather, a stock status update was provided to inform a decision in 2020. A full assessment is planned for 2021.
• In 2013, DFO began working on the Rebuilding Plan for 2J3KL Northern Cod with Indigenous partners, ENGOs and industry.
• Over the years, through extensive stakeholder meetings there have been challenges in reaching consensus, specifically as it relates to the harvest decision rule.
• Despite varying views, all stakeholders agreed that a rebuilding plan was needed and the Department concluded that further consultations would not have resulted in consensus on this issue and proceeded with the development of the plan.
• The HDR will provide predictability of the upcoming fishing season’s maximum authorized harvest level. Harvesters have expressed the need to have increased predictability and earlier communication of harvest levels, this rebuilding plan will work to address this concern.
• The Department will engage stakeholders on matters related to the implementation and review of the rebuilding plan through the annual 2+3KLMNO Groundfish Advisory Committee process.
• A full assessment on the Northern cod stock was held March 23-26, 2021 and determined that the stock remains in the critical zone with Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) estimated at 411,000t and 52 per cent of the Limit Reference Point.
• SSB has been at about the same level since 2017. The Harvest Decision Rule in the Northern cod Rebuilding Plan has calculated a Stewardship fishery maximum authorized harvest for 2021 (12,999t) that is relatively consistent with the maximum authorized harvest for 2020 (12,350t).

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