Atlantic Cod in 4Vn: Sentinel Surveys and Sustainability

Abstract

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) have been a species of extraordinary historical and cultural relevance within Atlantic Canada for centuries. The fishery came to a complete collapse during the mid-1990s and the Canadian federal government placed a full moratorium on the cod fishery in Atlantic Canada which still remains today. There is an annual survey of Atlantic cod within the Northwestern Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 4Vn (i.e., Sydney Bight) Division. This study uses the data collection from the Atlantic Cod Sentinel Survey from 1995- 2019 to study the condition and abundance of Atlantic cod within 4Vn throughout the years of the survey, along with the change in abundance of recorded bycatch. Additionally, discussions with fisheries management professionals were conducted to gauge the industry’s protocols and impressions on the decision-making and policy implementation approach with regards to the fisheries. This study recorded drastic declines in cod as well as the majority of bycatch species. Atlantic halibut was an outlier and showed a tremendous increase over the study period. The condition of the cod caught within 4Vn was observed using Fulton K, HSI, and GSI indices. HSI and GSI appear to correlate and both are trending upwards within the last few years. Fulton K expressed poor cod body condition consistently since 2002. Research demonstrates that Atlantic cod are sensitive to temperature and that the amalgamation of overfishing and anthropogenic climate change could have devastating consequences on the species. Discussion and policy research indicated that there is a need for more consultation between the federal government and Indigenous rightsholders and an implementation of Indigenous knowledges systems into the current decision-making process.