The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) has announced the final TACs for NAFO stocks for 2016, as well as the elimination of all bottom fishing on seamount areas.
The announcements were made during its 37th Annual Meeting on 21-25 September.
“While some NAFO stocks are still at low levels, it seems clear that our efforts at conservation and the sustainable use of our fishery resources are bearing fruit,” says NAFO President Veronika Veits, “with evidence that stocks are rebounding, including some which have recently been reopened.”
TACs were increased for cod and redfish (ocean perch) stocks on the Flemish Cap (Div. 3M), and catches were also increased for witch flounder (grey sole) on the Grand Bank.
It was decided that all bottom fishing is now banned on seamounts in the NAFO Regulatory Area (NRA), to protect marine ecosystems, in particular slow growing deep water corals. NAFO says that this decision is based on the organisation’s continuous efforts in maintaining the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management.
A mechanism will also continue to exchange information about fisheries and oil and gas exploration activities to ensure smooth co-existence of these activities.
During the meeting, it was also decided to start preparations for NAFO’s second performance review. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations called on all Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), such as NAFO, to undergo regular performance reviews. As a result, NAFO underwent its last performance review in 2011, and has since addressed all recommendations.
NAFO also agreed on additional technical measures to further improve compliance and enforcement measures in the northwest Atlantic, such as follow-up to infringements. NAFO noted that its latest comprehensive compliance review demonstrates a trend of continued increasing compliance.
