The Canadian total allowable catch (TAC) for the Northwest Atlantic Fishery Organization (NAFO) Division 0B Greenland halibut (turbot) fishery has been set at 7,000 tonnes. This is an increase of 1,500 tonnes from last year. Nunavut will receive 90 per cent of the increase and Inuit fishers in Nunavik will receive the remaining 10 per cent.
“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting economic development in Canada’s North, including a sustainable commercial fishery,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “Today’s decision supports this promise by increasing Nunavut’s turbot allocation. The sharing arrangement also meets our commitment to provide Nunavik Inuit with fishing opportunities as set out in their land claim agreement.”
The NAFO Division 0B Greenland halibut stock is part of a shared stock between Denmark (Greenland) and Canada. The total TAC for the region for the upcoming fishery is 14,000 tonnes, split evenly between the two countries. The decision to increase the TAC by 3,000 tonnes was based on a stock assessment by the NAFO Scientific Council.
