That’s right, while the first 115,000 tonnes of northern cod quota are reserved for the inshore fleet/Indigenous groups, it's possible Indigenous groups may be permitted to have offshore factory-freezer trawlers catch their share
Independent licensed owner-operators are encouraged to join SEA-NL here. These blog posts will be public for a limited time, before becoming exclusive to the membership.
Here’s how DFO puts it: “Details on allocations and the management of those allocations for northern cod will not be established until a TAC (total allowable catch), and allocation are implemented.”
In other words — maybe. DFO isn't saying no.
As for the size of the Indigenous share (25% has been asked for), SEA-NL wrote about it here.
The offshore sector — represented by the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP), and the Atlantic Groundfish Council — has certainly been spending a boat load of time/millions of dollars on northern cod science dating back to 2015, with particular attention to migration patterns.
The offshore spent $8.5 million alone on a northern cod acoustic tracking project.
Do you suppose the offshore is spending that kind of cash will no hopes of taking part in a commercial fishery for northern cod?
It was only last year that Ocean Choice International christened the MV Calvert — the first factory-freezer groundfish trawler to join the Canadian offshore sector since the mid-1980s.
The key word being groundfish, which includes cod of course.
Where's the fish coming from, I wonder?
Give the offshore credit for being on the ball. It's high time the inshore got its act in gear.
Ryan Cleary,
SEA-NL