The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) implemented no new measures to control cod bycatch, despite bycatch levels on the southern Grand Banks reaching more than twice the target levels, says WWF.
While Canada, supported by the European Union, argued that bycatch had to be reduced, WWF says that NAFO turned its back on a 2007 commitment to consider additional measures to control bycatch if voluntary measures failed.
“NAFO did not bring in necessary measures to reduce bycatch of Grand Banks cod, which will further prevent recovery”, said Dr Robert Rangeley, Vice-President, WWF-Canada, Atlantic Region. “However, there is a glimmer of hope. Canada has clearly demonstrated the ability to bring bycatch of cod under control in its own waters and NAFO’s Scientific Council has been directed to recommend concrete measures to reduce bycatch next year.”
In what WWF views as a flawed decision, NAFO re-opened the one minor Grand Banks fishery where recovery can be demonstrated, with catch quotas 33 per cent higher than the levels recommended by its Scientific Council and supported by Norway, the USA and WWF. The Flemish Cap cod fishery (3M) reached the NAFO rebuilding target after a 10 year moratorium.
Some progress was made on the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) from the impacts of bottom fishing, with NAFO agreeing to close 2500 nautical square miles of the proposed areas identified in locations where bottom fishing is likely to result in the prevention of significant adverse impacts on coldwater coral forests and sponge reefs.
However, WWF says that NAFO is still failing to properly assess impacts to vulnerable areas where fishing is currently being conducted.
