Cod Pots to be Tested as Alternative Harvesting Method

In recent years, the provincial fishing industry has paid significant attention to the potential use of baited cod pots as a means to control selectivity and quality during fish harvesting. Preliminary testing has been completed on experimental pots, and the results proved to be very promising.

Today, the Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced that the Provincial Government is supporting an initiative that will formally evaluate the merits of using cod pots as an alternative harvesting method. This is part of a $140,313 contribution that government has provided to the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) for various fisheries and aquaculture development projects. Under the Fisheries Development Program, government is contributing $22,400 toward the initiative.

�Baited cod pots allow harvesters to exercise quality control and selectivity practices,� said Minister Rideout. �As these pots contain live fish, all catches can be screened to ensure that fish are of optimal quality and any juveniles can be released at the fisher�s discretion. In short, harvesters can have more control over the composition of their catch, and conservation principles can be more effectively adhered to. The success of the preliminary testing has warranted a more detailed assessment of this technology, and my department is extremely pleased to contribute to this initiative.�

This work will be carried out through the collaboration of the Marine Institute�s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR), CCFI, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the commercial fishing industry.

�The first phase of the study will involve educating industry about the various cod pots and their existing potential to be used commercially,� said Carey Bonnell, managing director of CCFI. �During the fall, a group of harvesters from Placentia Bay, Trinity Bay and Fortune Bay will be selected to fish the pots alongside existing commercial fishing gear. Catches will be monitored as a basis for determining the suitability of cod pots in everyday fish harvesting.�

A final report is expected in February 2008.

�CCFI has been working toward commercializing the cod pot for several years now,� said Minister Rideout. �This new gear represents an innovative step forward in the harvesting of cod. Research conducted to date has resulted in promising catch rates, excellent selectivity and a premium quality product.�

In Budget 2006, an additional $250,000 was committed to the Fisheries Development Program for each of the next five years, for a total of $700,000 annually.

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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

2007 02 08                                        10:10 a.m.