The future of the fishery is looking better, providing we continue to place conservation in the forefront.
Sustainability is the key.
If we conduct a sustainable fishery, there will be room for growth and the industry will reap the benefits. The FRCC has suggested that some previously closed cod stocks can be reopened at conservative levels, while allowing these stocks to continue to rebuild. He emphasized that it will be up to each fleet sector to develop measures, as part of its conservation harvesting plan, to ensure that its share of these stocks can be harvested in a sustainable manner. In some, if not all, of these stocks this will mean that some form of effort controls must be instituted as well as strict monitoring controls. I am grateful to FRCC Chairman Fred Woodman Sr.