The Scientific Council of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) has released its advice on the status of certain fish stocks in the northwest Atlantic.
Now, advice for 2015 and future years is available for cod and American plaice on the Flemish Cap and redfish, American plaice, witch flounder and thorny skate on the Grand Bank.
Advice is also provided on Greenland Halibut, in accordance with this stock’s management plan, and work on the development of management plans for cod and redfish was started.
Last year, multi-annual advice was provided for redfish on the Flemish Cap and yellowtail flounder, white hake, capelin, cod, witch flounder and redfish on the Grand Bank, NAFO reviewed the status of these stocks and reiterated its previous advice.
In addition, advice was provided to Canada and Greenland for stocks of Greenland halibut, wolfish, American plaice and redfish in the Davis Strait.
The Organisation has also reviewed closures to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Since 2008, NAFO has closed 13 areas to bottom fishing and implemented further restrictions to fishing on seamounts and areas outside of historically fished grounds. These steps were taken to protect VMEs from significant adverse impacts of bottom fishing activities and to cease bottom fishing in areas where VMEs are likely to occur.
The Council also reviewed oceanographic and climate data from the northwest Atlantic, and discussed the potential implications of climate chance on exploited fish stocks
This advice will inform the decision-making process of NAFO’s Fisheries Commission, when it meets in Spain from 22 to 26 September 2014, to decide on quotas and other conservation measures for 2015.
The advice can be viewed online.
