Codfish in the stage belonging to Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Adobe Stock
Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson has announced a 55% increase in the Northern cod quota for 2026, along with new management measures for cod and capelin fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador.
For the first time since the 1992 moratorium, the latest scientific assessments show that the Northern cod stock is in the healthy zone. As a result, Canada has expanded the commercial fishery and increased opportunities for the recreational and subsistence Northern cod fishery.
Specifically, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Northern cod will increase from 38,000 tonnes to 59,000 tonnes, while the TAC for 2J3KLPs capelin will remain unchanged at 14,533 tonnes. As the overall quota increases, all fleets will have significantly more fish available to catch in 2026.
"These adjustments will ensure that the primary beneficiaries of this fishery continue to be the coastal communities of Newfoundland and Labrador. At the same time, the offshore sector plays a critical role in supporting these communities and providing a consistent year-round supply to international markets," the Ministry said in a statement.
The situation for the Northern Gulf cod (3Pn4RS) stock is different, as it remains in the critical zone and is still well below the level needed to support a sustainable commercial fishery. For this reason, total removals will continue to be capped at 500 tonnes per year.
In addition, as the recreational fishery accounts for the largest share of these removals, this measure is intended to support the recovery of the stock. The Ministry has confirmed that no directed commercial fishery will be allowed between the 2026–27 and 2028–29 seasons.
According to the Ministry, all of these precautionary management measures are based on scientific evidence and are designed to create greater economic opportunities for harvesters and seafood processing workers, both today and for future generations.
