Federal fisheries minister ignored DFO advice by reopening commercial cod fishery
CBC
Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier ignored the advice of staff within her department when she reopened the commercial cod fishery off Newfoundland and Labrador in June.
A briefing note dated May 9 reveals that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans recommended maintaining the longtime moratorium on northern cod based on scientific evidence, but that political advisors within the minister's office argued reopening the commercial fishery and hiking quotas would be "politically a victory."
Senior policy advisor Paul Carrigan wrote that DFO staff were concerned about an increase to quotas and the return of offshore boats in the fishery, which would "increase the stocks' risk of decline."
According to the document, the department wanted to maintain the total allowable catch at 13,000 tonnes — the same level announced in 2022 and 2023. They also recommended the minister maintain a stewardship fishery for cod, meaning a limited fishery practised solely by inshore harvesters.
"Certainly, this option is based more on scientific advice," reads the briefing note, which was first reported on by news website allNewfoundlandLabrador.
Lebouthillier declined an interview Monday because she was travelling to British Columbia.
"It's important to do things right, and that's why we are revitalizing this fishery carefully, but with optimism," said the minister in a statement to Radio-Canada in French.
"Rest assured that I will continue to work closely with the industry, both on the harvesting and processing sides, as well as with the province's various Indigenous communities, to ensure the sustainable development of Newfoundland and Labrador's fisheries sector."
According to the briefing note, DFO staff presented two other potential options to the minister:
DFO staff warned, however, that both options presented a higher risk of the northern cod stock returning to what the department considers the "critical zone." While DFO announced last year, after rejigging its stock assessment framework, that northern cod has been in the cautious zone since 2016, population growth may have stalled, worrying government scientists.
Despite DFO's concerns, political considerations appear to have won the day.
The briefing note indicates the federal Liberals' Newfoundland and Labrador caucus, composed of the province's six Liberal MPs, "will only support option 3, the 18,000 tonnes."
"You should consider 20,000, which would be a political victory for N.L.," the document continues, noting that "the N.L. caucus is united on going ahead with a commercial fishery."
In the end, on June 26, Lebouthillier announced the reopening of the commercial fishery and a total allowable catch of 18,000, the course of action supported by her Liberal colleagues.
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