Cod stocks on south coast of Newfoundland 'OK but not great', says researcher

A newstudyinto the state ofcod stocks off the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador shows a decline and high mortality rates.

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Lead researcher, Rick Rideout, says while stocks aren't in terrible shape, there is reason forconcern.

"3PS cod is currently what we would call in the cautious zone it's certainly below the target of where fisheriesmanagement would like the stock to be," said Rideout.

"We're okay, but we're not great."

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) reporton the 3PS fishing zone which stretches from Placentia Bay, along the Saint Pierre Bank, to the southwest coast of the provincewas carried out in October.

Thearea has asmall commercial cod fishery, and last year,saw a modest increase in the allowable catch.

Mortality worries

While thestock has been increasingfor a number of years, Rideout said there has been a decline forthe last two or three.

"Our estimates of mortality are really high right now, as high as we've seen in monitoring this stock," Rideout told CBC'sThe Broadcast.

"The spawning stock has declined so we have fish that aren't surviving to spawn a whole lot of times."

The report estimates total mortality has beenincreasing since 1997, and reached an average of 48 per cent between 2012 and 2014.

Itsaidthat the size, weight, fish condition and maturity levels arenear thelowest observed.

Rideout said historically, survival rateshave been higher.

The spawning stock is now between the ages for four and seven years, which Rideoutcalled a"pretty restricted" age.

"Basically, fish are not surviving to those older ages, they'recoming into the stock ... but they're not surviving to older ages, and again, that's a big concern."

Recommendations

Rideout said that while the report states the 3PS stock is in the "cautious zone,"with a probability of further decline, itbasically gives advice,and ultimately it's up to management to govern the stock.

"We're not in terrible shape right nowbut certainly as DFO scientists we have some reason for caution, I think caution is a good word right now."