St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador - The government of Canada recognizes the historical, cultural and economic importance of cod to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and is committed to the sustainable management of this iconic species.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard announced the end of the Northern cod moratorium off the north and east coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. This historic decision re-establishes a commercial Northern cod fishery in NAFO Divisions 2J3KL with a Canadian Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 18,000 tonnes for the 2024 season. The inshore fleet sector will receive approximately eighty-four percent of the TAC, with twenty percent of this inshore sector allocation provided to 2J-based harvesters and six percent of the TAC is allocated to the Canadian offshore fleet.
This responsible reopening will generate significant economic benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador's economy while supporting good paying jobs in the commercial fishery and the processing industry. It also follows last week's announcement of the Recreational Groundfish Fishery which was a roll-over from 2023. The 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish Fishery will be open this season for 39 days. It will be open every Saturday, Sunday and Monday from June 29, 2024, up to and including September 2, 2024, and for nine days from Saturday, September 21 to Sunday, September 29, 2024.
Additionally, the department intends to eliminate the catch and release aspect of tour boat operations in the recreational groundfish fishery, and introduce a tagging regime starting in 2025. DFO will consult with tour boat operators in the fall of 2024 as a first step in developing this requirement.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada remains committed to sustainable management practices that balance conservation with economic considerations in Newfoundland and Labrador's fisheries.
