Untangle fisheries policy from the nets of old political debates

As Prime Minister Mark Carney focuses on strengthening trade with Europe, his government is preparing to make a decision on the commodity that first linked Europe and what would become Canada: codfish off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Government’s decision to end the 32-year moratorium in 2024 has proven both economically and environmentally sound, generating more than $130-million for rural communities with limited economic opportunities, while the cod stock continues to be healthy and growing.

This year’s northern cod quota and allocation decisions are occurring in a rare moment where economics, sustainability, and trade policy all point in the same direction.

Northern cod once again has the largest spawning stock biomass of any cod stock in the world. At the same time, global cod supply has dropped sharply (40 per cent) over the past five years, tightening supply and pushing prices higher.

That matters for Newfoundland and Labrador, but it should also matter in Ottawa.

Markets are increasingly looking for cod, and they are looking to Canada.

Newfoundland and Labrador is geographically closer to Europe than to Western Canada. That connection is not new. It helped build the province and shaped Atlantic trade for centuries.

More than 70 per cent of Atlantic cod goes to Europe. As Canada tries to deepen trade relationships beyond the United States, northern cod represents a practical opportunity already sitting in front of us. The infrastructure, buyers, and relationships already exist.

Last month, speaking to European delegations at the Global Progress Action Summit in Toronto, Carney said Canada must “build new trade relationships in order to move from reliance to resilience.” The northern cod decision is an opportunity to put those words into action. Europe is looking for stable, sustainable seafood supply, and Canada is well positioned to provide it.

This spring, northern cod entered the evaluation process for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, the international benchmark for sustainable fisheries. There is real significance in that. The MSC standard emerged in response to the collapse of northern cod. A fishery once held up globally as a warning is now being assessed for the world’s leading sustainability certification. The announcement at Global Seafood Expo in Barcelona was an emotional one for local industry participants, but equally so for European customers who for years have been financially contributing to an industry-led initiative to improve the research and science on the iconic stock. 

The upcoming management decision must reflect present-day realities—not the conditions of 1992. The stock has grown, science supports increased harvesting, and markets are paying premium prices for stable supply.

The federal government has an opportunity to increase the total allowable catch in a meaningful way while remaining firmly within a science-based approach.

A larger quota alone, however, is not enough to seize the transformational opportunity. Canada also needs a fishery structured to meet the demands of modern seafood markets. Buyers expect consistent, year-round supply and high-quality product, especially in premium markets. Achieving that requires balance across the industry, including access for local small inshore boats and larger local offshore vessels to contribute to a dependable, high-value, year-round fishery.

To build the strongest overall economic outcome for Newfoundland and Labrador—and for Canada—local offshore harvesters need their share to increasingly align with best practices of global fishing nations. Better balance between sector shares facilitates year-round supply. It also maximizes the economic value per tonne of fish caught—an important priority, especially considering Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest per person debt load in the country.

Too often, discussions around fisheries policy get trapped in old political debates while larger opportunities pass by. Canada can expand exports to Europe, strengthen a historic trade relationship, and grow economic activity in rural coastal communities through a fishery grounded in science and sustainability. 

These opportunities do not come along often.

For decades, northern cod has been synonymous with collapse and loss. Today, it represents something very different: recovery, resilience, and economic potential.

European customers are watching closely to see if Canada will make a decision that reflects that reality.

Sylvie Lapointe is the president of the Atlantic Groundfish Council. Previously, she spent 26 years working for the Government of Canada, including two decades at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. She managed fisheries across Canada, chaired high-profile advisory committees in the Atlantic, and held many positions within DFO, including assistant deputy minister of fisheries and harbour management.

The Hill Times