Boats take to water in reopened N.L. food fishery

A recreational fishery off Newfoundland and Labrador opened early Wednesday, with individuals allowed to catch a meal of cod.

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn approved the three-week restricted fishery in June, despite warnings from scientists that the health of inshore cod stocks may still be too weak.

Participants in what's often called the food fishery are allowed to take five cod per day. A boatload is limited to 15 fish.

The fishery openedshortly beforedawn.

Unlike some previous food fisheries, participants will not need to use tags, following a more relaxed measure introduced last year. The fishery, however, will be closely monitored.

"She's coming to life around here.… Couldn't be any better," said Leo Stack, who fishes from Petty Harbour, just south of St. John's. Fishermen there are not only planning to catch their own cod, but take tourists out on the water.

"It's quite an experience," said tourist Lloyd Purdy, who is looking forward to his excursion.

"You don't get that experience in Ontario— you know, you just don't get it."

The fishery will run until Aug. 19. It will reopen in the fall for nine additional days.

Various restrictions have been placed on cod fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador since a moratorium on northern cod was instituted in July 1992.

Despite conservation efforts, science reports show that offshore stocks of cod remain very weak.