The Canadian government has announced a 60,000-metric-ton (MT) total allowable catch (TAC) for its second commercial redfish season in roughly 30 years, following the stock’s recovery.
After the nation's redfish population plummeted in the early 1990s, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) closed the fishery in 1995. The fishery remained closed for 30 years as regulators waited for the fish to recover, only opening an experimental fishery in recent years to analyze the stock. Last year, Canada finally opened a Unit 1 commercial redfish fishery, providing quotas to fishers in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec to resume their redfish harvest after a three-decade hiatus.
“Commercial fisheries play a critical role in the livelihood of many Canadians, and fishing is part of the social fabric of Atlantic Canada,” Canada Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in announcing the second commercial season. “As part of the government’s plans to keep the Canadian economy strong, we will continue to work with stakeholders to increase the prosperity of the redfish fishery while respecting and enforcing conservation objectives.”
DFO has set a 60,000-MT total TAC for the season, which will open ...
