Thresholds Database > Fisheries: collapse of fish stocks, Newfoundland

Background

As cod catches declined in the early 1970s and in the late 1980s, fishing efforts switched to other fish species (e.g. redfish, Greenland halibut), but these stocks also declined (Hamilton et al. 2004). Fishing effort again switched to invertebrates (e.g. northern shrimp, American lobster and snow crab) particularly after a moratorium was placed on "dragger" skippers in 1994. However, not all regions had a good supply of invertebrates and only fishermen with the proper licences could bring in invertebrates (a much lower number than for the cod fishery). Geography, marketing and investment decisions as well as licensing/quota rules all affected the ability of individuals to adapt to a changing ecosystem.

Alternate Regimes

1. Abundant fishing resources; trawling

2. Introduction of drag nets, followed by a collapse of fish stocks; moratorium on fishing, closure of cod fishing industry, high unemployment, high levels of education, people leaving local communities for jobs elsewhere

Mechanism

Overfishing was the primary cause of a decline of fish stocks, but climatic conditions also had a contributing effect (Drinkwater 2002). Unusually cold conditions occurred off Newfoundland from 1984 - 1998 resulting from strong northerly winds associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation. This cold period was the longest and most severe for the period 1950 to 2002. Whilst Newfoundland's groundfish populations have survived previous cold spells without collapse, decades of heavy fishing left fish populations less reproductively robust. In particular, since fishermen prefer larger fish, many older females were taken, yet it is these that produce the most number of eggs and have more viable offspring. Also, the colder conditions slowed growth rates and reduced recruitment directly. This occurred at a time when the fishing industry relied on recruitment rates to restore fish populations. Even though a moratorium was placed on fishing in 1994, fish populations were still low by 2002 (Hamilton et al. 2004). The mechanisms behind this are not clear.



1. When there were abundant fish stocks, there were three distinct social phases (Hamilton et al. 2004):

i) Traditional Era (Pre 1965) when fishing occurred in open boats with hook and line and there was little need locally for cash.

ii) Technological change (1965-mid 1970s): Boats became larger and began trawling and the human population grew.

iii) Boom Era (mid 1970s - mid 1980s); Dragnets commonly used increased fish-take and bycatch. Declining fish-abundance in-shore.



2. When fish stocks collapsed, society was forced to change:

iv) Bust and Change (from late 1980s): 1994 moratorium meant the 400 fish plant workers were put out of work. In 2003 the cod fishery closed down. Increasing dependence on government assistance and many young people leave the area for education or employment.

Management Decisions in Each Regime

1976 Canada declared a 200-mile economic exclusion zone; foreign quotas were cut back and domestic fishing capacity expanded through subsidised investment. Canadian catches reached new highs in the late 1970s and early 1980s and stayed high until the late 1980s.

After 1988 - falling catches and quotas.

1993 - The northern Gulf fishery was closed temporarily

1994 - Moratorium on northern Gulf fishery, but cod numbers continued to decline

2003 - Northern cod and Northern Gulf fisheries closed.