Food fishery threatens cod recovery, scientist says

The federal government made the wrong decision by reviving a food fishery and a commercial cod fishery this summer, an internationally respected fisheries scientist says.

"I think it's a risky proposition," said George Rose, the chair of fisheries conservation at Memorial University.

"Even with the small amount of fish — relatively tiny amount of fish — that's being taken, I believe that it's enough to actually retard the rebuilding process on the northeast coast."

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn announced approval on Friday for a three-week limited commercial cod fishery, as well as a recreational fishery that will allow anyone to catch cod for personal use.

The so-called food fishery will allow anyone to catch as many as five fish per day, with a boatload limit of 15 fish when more than three people are on a vessel.

Rose, a former federal fisheries scientist, said he understands the economic and social reasons for a limited fishery. However, he said he is dismayed that there appears to be little thought now given to allowing the cod stock to rebuild.

"We're kind of getting in a rut… and we're giving up on the rebuilding strategies that we should have in place, you know, for a much larger fishery in the future," Rose told CBC News.

"I think it is just a symptom of a greater problem, that we've kind of given up on rebuilding the fishery in any large sense, and that we're going to be content with just this small harvest each year, and with little chance of having more in the future."

'Shooting ourselves in the foot'

Rose said he does not agree with anecdotal reports that inshore cod stocks are strong enough to withstand pressure from even a recreational fishery.

"If we get too wrapped up in having fisheries right now, we're more or less shooting ourselves in the foot for larger fisheries down the road," he said.

Hearn, though, said there has been "small growth" in the inshore stocks of cod, "but not what we would like to see."

Nonetheless, Hearn said there is enough cod to sustain the food fishery and a marginal commercial fishery. Hearn said the fishery will be monitored carefully.

"If we're cutting into the biomass, I mean, it's a no-brainer — there won't be any fishery," Hearn told CBC News.

"I'd rather try to have something which we can enjoy every year, which can provide a few dollars for the commercial fishermen and some enjoyment for everybody else … then we'll be able to do that for a long time to come, if we're careful."

The food fishery, which will be open in all inshore areas in Newfoundland and Labrador, will start on July 30 and run until Aug. 19. It will open again in the fall, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 7.