Proceedings 2008/025

Workshop for Industry–DFO Reconciliation on Scientific Monitoring of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Cod Stock

Chairperson: S. Paradis

Summary

Following industry representations to the Minister, the latter directed his officials to conduct a joint industry/DFO Science meeting to discuss the points of contention raised by the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Groundfish Fishers’ Coalition related to the scientific evaluation of Atlantic cod in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) division 4T. The meeting was held on October 15 and 16, 2008, in Moncton, New Brunswick. There were 27 participants: 13 from DFO, 12 from the Coalition and 2 outside experts from academia. The discussion paper submitted by the Coalition identified 10 points of contention and provided a basis for discussion. Presentations by an anthropologist and gear specialist were made in support of the Coalition’s position. A research scientist from DFO Science summarized how the research vessel survey is conducted and used in the assessment of 4T cod.

Two of the themes raised by the Coalition were directed at the September research survey of the southern Gulf, including fishing operations, the crew–trawl–vessel combination used for the survey, the time of year of the survey and the area covered by the survey. The Coalition contends that the survey indices are inaccurate and that, as a result, the scientific assessments indicate less cod than actually exists. The industry is also asking that DFO renew its interest in the development of environmentally friendly gear to reduce catches of immature fish.

Another theme addressed by the industry was the need to integrate the fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) into the scientific assessment of stock status and the management of the resource in order to ensure that the social aspects of the fishery are taken into account. Also discussed was the issue of cod predation by seals, which, in industry’s view, is currently the main obstacle to the recovery of the cod stock in this area.

The exchanges were constructive and 12 recommendations were made for 6 of the 10 higher priority themes. The recommendations include a review of the sentinel fishery program, a further review of the survey by an independent team of experts and the possibility of an additional survey by industry, potentially in June, to add to the existing August sentinel fishery survey and the current DFO September research survey.

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