Government Supporting Cod Recovery Science Initiatives

The Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today said that government continues to support science initiatives to assist with the implementation of the Strategy for Recovery and Management of Cod Stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The cod recovery document identified a number of science priorities in relation to cod stocks throughout the province, and a number of research projects were developed that are consistent with these recommendations.

�Our government was pleased to allocate $300,000 in Budget 2006 to assist with the implementation of the cod recovery strategy,� said Minister Rideout. �An equal amount will be set aside for similar purposes in each of the next four years, for a total of $1.5 million toward the operation of initiatives throughout the cod recovery process. This funding was instrumental in leveraging a contribution of $1.2 million this year from the federal government for cod recovery initiatives in our province.�

To date, government has partnered in five projects aimed generally at studying the distribution and health of cod populations in waters surrounding Newfoundland and Labrador. Most recently, a contribution of $75,000 was set aside for a winter survey of the offshore banks and the nose of the Grand Banks. The survey will begin in February and will aim to increase our understanding of the offshore distribution of northern cod during the winter months and the potential reasons for high levels of mortality. This funding will allow a research team from Memorial University to partner with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on the survey.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has also contributed a total of $145,000 to four other initiatives, for which the field work has concluded. These include a survey of the northeast coast inshore cod population, a study of the abundance and distribution of northern cod between offshore waters and the inshore sentinel fishery, a survey aimed at quantifying fish mortality rates and a study of the importance of habitat to cod in relation to spawning behaviour.

�The need to enhance science as it relates to our fish stocks has been well pronounced,� said Minister Rideout. �To that end, our government is pleased to make these contributions to these very significant initiatives. We will continue to contribute to initiatives aimed at protecting our cod stocks, or initiatives aimed at finding ways to enhance these stocks. This is consistent with our commitment to the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry, and we will continue to make our fishery a top priority in moving forward.�

The cod recovery strategy was released last November as part of a broader strategy for the rebuilding of cod stocks in each Atlantic province. The strategy and recommendations were developed based on consultations with stakeholders and research carried out by an action team composed of representatives of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada.

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Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca