Past and future goals and objectives in the allocation of the northern cod resource

Blackwood, Glenn (1996) Past and future goals and objectives in the allocation of the northern cod resource. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (13MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

The collapse of the Northern cod stock and subsequent closure of the fishery in NAFO divisions 2J+3KL, is reflective of the worldwide crisis in fisheries management. The uncertainty surrounding the future of this resource and the thousands of people dependent upon it has led to changes in the management process; however, the resource allocation issue has not been resolved and as in the past remains a major source of controversy. -- This study examines the allocations and catches of Northern cod during the 1977 to 1991 period. This information is presented in the context of the stated goals and objectives for the allocation of the resource. The study reveals that despite public statements and published documents of a priority access to the inshore sector, the greater part of the resource was allocated to other users such as the Canadian offshore fleet and foreign countries as part of Canada's bilateral agreements. This failure to adhere to stated goals and objectives was largely owing to the overly optimistic resource projections of the late 1970s which projected a 350,000-400,000 mt. total allowable catch (TAC) by 1985 and estimated the inshore requirement to be approximately 230,000 mt.. These projections opened the door for new users and allowed for foreign allocations which led to a redistribution of the economic benefits of the Northern cod resource away from the traditional inshore sector which was to have been the principal beneficiary of the 200 mile limit. This euphoric phase of the late 1970s was followed by a period of uncertainty during the 1980s, fuelled by the repeated failure of the inshore fishery to harvest its allocation of 115,000 mt. The crisis phase began in 1989 when scientists recommended dramatic reductions in the total allowable catch. Unfortunately this advice was not taken by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the TACs were set at more than twice the advised level until the stock collapsed in 1992. -- The stated goals and objectives of priority for the inshore sector were never achieved and by 1986 the inshore fishery accounted for only 26% of the total catch. Now that the fishery is closed there are a number of reports that restate the priority allocation to the inshore sector and recommend that when the fishery reopens the first 100,000 mt. of catch be allocated exclusively to the inshore fishery. It remains to be seen if these goals and objectives will be the cornerstone of future allocation and management or like those of the late 1970s and early 1980s will be neither adhered to nor attained.

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