Minister meets with federal officials

Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Yvonne Jones met with Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials yesterday and received a full briefing on the cod kill in Smith Sound.

"The province is very concerned about this event. The extreme drop in water temperature has killed many fish. I understand indications show that water temperatures will not change significantly in the short term and there remains a risk that more fish will die."

Although there are indications that the kill was a result of cold temperatures and seals are not responsible, the Science Oceans and Environment Branch of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is initiating retrieval of some of the seals in the area, for stomach analysis and considering possible strategies to exclude them from the area, if required.

DFO scientists are in the process of gathering samples, and it appears the cod froze. This time of year cod are on the bottom below the cold water; therefore, either the cold water level dropped or the cod moved up in the water column. Cod would move to avoid a predator (ie seals) or pursue prey. Given the time of year (overwintering) and the lack of herring in the stomachs, it doesn�t appear they are currently actively feeding, making it more likely that if the cod did move up into the cold water, it was the result of being driven off the bottom.

The estimated biomass in Trinity Bay is between 20,000 - 25,000 tonnes while the mortality associated with this event appears to be approximately 300 to 350 tonnes. "The overall impact may not be significant, however, given this is the last known aggregation of Northern cod, and the fact that a high percentage of the reported dead fish are large, causes concern," said Minister Jones. "This situation is unlikely to have any impact on the pending DFO decision with regard to a 2003 fishery.

"I am comfortable that DFO is responding appropriately to this situation. I understand that a full scale investigation is underway including the deployment of the Canadian Coast Guard ship Teleos, a remote-operated vehicle, survey of the bottom and the assignment of the best scientific expertise available. As well, I am encouraged to be advised that Dr. George Rose of Memorial University has been invited to join the DFO scientific investigation team.

"Officials from my department are continuing to monitor developments at Smith Sound and are working with the processing sector to ensure the safety and quality of any products produced."

Media contact: Cynthia Layden-Barron, Communications, (709) 729-3733

2003 03 11                                       4:55 p.m.