1. Newfoundland Cod Fisheries By: Joe Mersereau Andrew Sullivan

2. Fish and Chips

3. Overview Cod and cod fishing Cod and cod fishing Who/what was blamed? Who/what was blamed? Previous Management Previous Management Conditions of important stocks Conditions of important stocks Management Management

4. Overview Cont’d Who/what should be blamed? Who/what should be blamed? Our thoughts on improving cod numbers Our thoughts on improving cod numbers

5. Atlantic Cod Average weight of 2-3 kg Average weight of 2-3 kg Found in waters 5- 500m Found in waters 5- 500m Water of 2-3°C Water of 2-3°C Feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, shellfish Feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, shellfish Found in the North Atlantic Found in the North Atlantic

6. History of Cod Fishing Started in the 15 th Century Started in the 15 th Century Many European countries historical Many European countries historical Newfoundland culture Newfoundland culture Historical fluctuations Historical fluctuations 1960’s showed a definite decline 1960’s showed a definite decline

7. Canadian Heritage Moment https://www.historica- dominion.ca/content/heritage- minutes/john-cabot?media_type=41& https://www.historica- dominion.ca/content/heritage- minutes/john-cabot?media_type=41&

8. Causes of Decline Seals Seals Fishing techniques Fishing techniques Over fishing Over fishing Starving ecosystem Starving ecosystem Climate Change: water became warmed which pushed polar bears up North so seals have less predation Climate Change: water became warmed which pushed polar bears up North so seals have less predation Badly managed : no quotas, then incorrect quotas Badly managed : no quotas, then incorrect quotas

9. Seals Increase in Seal numbers Increase in Seal numbers Reduced seal hunt by 1900s Reduced seal hunt by 1900s Increase in seal predation Increase in seal predation Spread of cod worms Spread of cod worms

10. Cod Worms Complex life cycle Complex life cycle Reproduce in seal guts Reproduce in seal guts Expelled in feces Expelled in feces Several larvae stages Several larvae stages Live in fish muscles Live in fish muscles

11. Cod worms Devalues price of cod Devalues price of cod May have negative parasitic effects May have negative parasitic effects Good public image for killing seals Good public image for killing seals Does not have any stress effect on fish Does not have any stress effect on fish

12. Seals defense Selective predation Selective predation Difficult to prove Difficult to prove Cod show signs of starvation Cod show signs of starvation Seals eat other predators Seals eat other predators

13. Cod Fishing Techniques Long liners introduced in the 1950s Long liners introduced in the 1950s Uses one line with various hooks and baits Uses one line with various hooks and baits By-catch By-catch Cod traps Cod traps Chased Capelin Chased Capelin

14. Draggers Huge nets Huge nets Scrape Ocean floor Scrape Ocean floor By-catch By-catch Habitat destruction Habitat destruction Spawning interruptions Spawning interruptions Increases predation on eggs Increases predation on eggs

15. Over Fishing Trawlers Trawlers Floating Fish factories Floating Fish factories 200 tons of Cod an hour 200 tons of Cod an hour 1800s 1800s 150 000 - 400 000t 150 000 - 400 000t 1968 1968 800 000t 800 000t

16. Over Fishing Registered fisherman Registered fisherman 1975 - 13,736 1975 - 13,736 1980 - 33, 640 1980 - 33, 640 In 1990 400,000t of biomass In 1990 400,000t of biomass By the end of 1994 1,700t By the end of 1994 1,700t Unreported fishing Unreported fishing

17. Climate Change Effect distribution, migration and abundance Effect distribution, migration and abundance Cooling has effect on reproduction, growth and condition Cooling has effect on reproduction, growth and condition Changed to warmer northern waters Changed to warmer northern waters

18. Climate Change Global warming may be a factor Global warming may be a factor Climate has effect on currents and salinity Climate has effect on currents and salinity Reduced range of cod to a fifth Reduced range of cod to a fifth Changes locations of prey Changes locations of prey

19. Other Causes Of Decreased Cod

20. Poorly Managed Poorly Managed No management of prey species No management of prey species Quotas unrealistic Quotas unrealistic Lowering of Biodiversity Lowering of Biodiversity No Sentinel fishing No Sentinel fishing Gave subsidies for fishing gear Gave subsidies for fishing gear

21. Poorly managed No other job opportunities No other job opportunities Minimal fines Minimal fines Problems with foreign fish pirates Problems with foreign fish pirates Problems politically versus scientifically Problems politically versus scientifically

22. Moratorium 2 year halt of fishing cod 2 year halt of fishing cod John C. Crosbie John C. Crosbie $225 a week to unemployed workers $225 a week to unemployed workers 10 week period 10 week period 90% of some villages were unemployed 90% of some villages were unemployed

23. Moratorium 20 000 jobs lost 20 000 jobs lost Newfoundlanders were furious at the mismanagement Newfoundlanders were furious at the mismanagement Fisherman blamed foreign fleets Fisherman blamed foreign fleets

24. Who Should Be Blamed? Government – blames nature Government – blames nature Ignored science Ignored science Delays decisions Delays decisions Short term fixes Short term fixes

25. Who Should Be Blamed? Local Fisheries – blames gov, international fisheries Local Fisheries – blames gov, international fisheries Also used new heavy equipment Also used new heavy equipment Demand re-openings Demand re-openings

26. What Should be Done Government Government Focus more on science Focus more on science More on compensation More on compensation Make long term efforts Make long term efforts Commit Commit Fishers Fishers Accept decisions Accept decisions Follow rules Follow rules

27. References http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/cod-morue/Strategie-nl_e.htm#4.3 The response of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to future climate change Kenneth F. Drinkwater Climate change joins fishing as cod threat By Roger Highfield, Science Editor Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 14/11/2007 Greenpeace http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/cod/contents.htm http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/backgrou/2003/cod-5_e.htm#14www.fisheriescrisis.comhttp://www.marinebiodiversity.ca/en/pdfs/EssayEdwards.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-line_fishinghttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070222155140.htm Comeau, P. A confidential report conclused that Atlantic cod is endangered, Magazine CG in-depth http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/specialfeatures/atlanticcod/cod.asp Fisheries and Oceans Canada, A Strategy for the Recovery and Management of Cod Stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador. 2005. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/cod-morue/Strategie-nl_e.htm#4.4 Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Closure of the Cod Fisheries and Action Plan to Assist Affected Individuals and Communities. 2003 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/infocus/2003/20030424_e.htm Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Why the Cod Stocks Havn’t Recovered. 2003 http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/media/backgrou/2003/cod-3_e.htm Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Current State of the Atlantic Fishery. 2003. http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/media/backgrou/2003/cod-1_e.htm Fisheries and Oceans Canada, STATE OF NORTHERN AND GULF COD STOCKS IN 2003 http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/media/backgrou/2003/cod-2_e.htm