A recent evaluation of Atlantic cod populations in the Bay of Fundy and the Scotian Shelf indicates ongoing challenges. A report released in April, analyzing data from 2024-25, revealed the lowest count of young fish on record and elevated mortality rates.
Irene Andrushchenko, a scientist from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans leading the assessment, expressed concerns about the population’s status in these regions. She noted that the situation has been critical since around 2008 and remains so, with the exact reasons for the decline still unclear, possibly stemming from factors like predation and water temperatures.
The assessment also highlighted a decrease in the age of the species, with older fish not observed in bycatch or surveys since the 1990s. Atlantic cod fishing is limited to bycatch only, with a total allowable catch of 660 metric tonnes set to address incidental catches. In the 2024-25 period, 466 metric tonnes were captured.
Katie Schleit, the fisheries director at Oceans North, an Ottawa-based marine conservation organization involved in the evaluation, commended the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ management efforts. However, she emphasized the challenges of recovering collapsed populations, even without fishing pressure, as weakened populations are more susceptible.
Schleit stressed the need for favorable environmental conditions to aid stock recovery, pointing out that areas like the Gulf of St. Lawrence and parts of the Scotian Shelf are experiencing accelerated climate change, impacting fish stocks negatively. While management is conducted on a regional basis, the overall declining trend across populations is worrisome.