The Newfoundland & Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council 2016-17 James W. Baird Chairperson
NL-GIDC Introduction The NL-GIDC was established in April, 2016 It started with the FFAW and 5 processors It has grown to include the FFAW, 11 Processors and 4 Ex-officio members The NLGIDC Board of directors includes 50% FFAW and 50% Processors Guided by 3 Overarching Sustainability Objectives 1. Conservation and Sustainable Use 2. Economic Viability and Sustainability 3. Community and Social Sustainability 2
NL-GIDC Membership - 2017 Independent Chair FFAW-Unifor EX Officio Members Department of Fisheries and Oceans Department of Fisheries and Land Resources World Wildlife Fund Whitecap International Seafood Exporters Processors The Barry Group Beothic Fish Processors Fogo Island Co-op Allen s Fisheries Golden Shell Fisheries Codroy Seafoods Ltd Happy Adventure Sea Products Avalon Ocean Products Harbour Seafoods Deep Atlantic Sea Products Labrador Fishermen Union Shrimp Co
What happened in 2016-2017 In 2016 the DFO Minister confirmed the 115,000 t inshore allowance NL-GIDC Highlights Developed proposals for the 2J3KL Cod Stewardship Fishery 2016/2017 management approaches accepted and implemented by DFO Joined the FFAW/WWF Fishery Improvement Project for 2J3KL Cod Led a discussion on the re-emergence of groundfish with the FFAW, WWF and market leaders at the North American Seafood Expo in Boston Supported the FFAW-FSSSB Cod Quality project NL-GIDC have members on The NL Ministers Fisheries Advisory Panel Steering Committee for this Cod Conference 4
NL-GIDC 2J3KL Stewardship Cod 2016 Management 19 week Season Compared to 3-4 week previous stewardship fisheries August 15-December 16 Weekly Limits 2000 lb/wk Aug 15-Sept 4 3000 lb/wk Sept 5-Dec 16 No homeport restrictions Fishing inside 12 miles Gear Restrictions NL-GIDC 2J3KL proposals result in low fishing mortality to promote stock growth 2017 management 21 week fishery No homeport restrictions Fishing permitted outside 12 Miles Autumn double weekly limit option Gear restrictions 5
AVE F NL-GIDC Cod Plans Low F 0.25 Average F Ages 5-14 2016 projected horizontal line 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 Ave F YEAR 2016 Projected F 6
Quality Project/Quality Grading Quality Project This project has been ongoing since 2015 The goal of the project is to increase the quality of cod caught Information is collected on how cod is: caught and handled on board the vessel landed at the wharf transported to the processing plant Results from the Grading project Quality is generally better in Autumn Grade A was in the range of 90-95% in 2017 in the Aug-Oct period Quality Grading In 2017 quality grading indicates 80-85% Grade A There has been a regular improvement in the % Grade A since 2015 Improved from 65% to 80-85% in three years
2017 Additional Activities The following projects were included in the 2017 NL-GIDC Management proposal to DFO Boxing of fish onboard vessels Transition to other gear types In addition there was some initial analysis on landing ports for Groundfish Draft of an NL-GIDC strategic plan for 2018-2020 was prepared and discussed
Boxing of Fish Onboard Vessels Benefits of this initiative High quality through all stages of the transport of the raw material Boxing-at-sea will result in extension of shelf life Particularly important when a high degree of onshore transportation is required It is envisaged that the fish would be boxed-at-sea Sealed and transported to the landing site. Off-loaded and transported to the processing facility. DMP to occur inside the processing facility This approach would eliminate excessive handling of the product The NLGIDC work to date: Availability of boxes for all vessel sizes DFO regarding DMP requirements DFNL/DFO regarding investment in required infrastructure
Transition to Other Gear types NL-GIDC actively promoted additional use of HL and LL gear in 2017 3 Gear suppliers attended and presented at the NL-GIDC 2017 AGM Clearly all Gears can produce high quality if used correctly Recent fisheries suggest that GN have to be tended regularly Cod other gear types (longlines, hand lines, cod pots, etc.) produce a generally superior quality raw material DFLR s 2016-2017 SITP had 126 proposals with 63 approvals 37 proposals approved for cod pots and auto jigger systems AFF to date in 2017 44 proposals/34 for gear transition 8 project applications complete 6 for gear transition
Strategic Landing Ports - Groundfish In 2016 in NL there was 20,765 t of groundfish landed in 337 ports Top Percent Ports Landings 15 33.2 30 50.0 50 66.1 70 75.7 100 86.7 150 94.7 187 ports had 5% of landings / 267 ports had 24% of the landings Required for an appropriate analysis: Summaries of other species (shellfish, pelagics, etc.) Regional balance will need to be considered Anticipated landings in future
NL-GIDC Strategic Plan Priority Issues The recently developed an NL-GIDC 2018-2020 Strategic Plan is based on two overarching and interconnected objectives. To catch and land a consistent supply of top quality raw material over an eight to ten month season. To produce prime quality fresh fish, salt fish and once frozen groundfish products for sale in international markets. The priorities focus on the key issues that will arise with the redevelopment of the NL groundfish industry and include: Strategic Objective #1 - Top Quality Raw Material Extended Seasons Fish Handling Practises Gear Diversification Fish Stowage Systems Strategic Objective # 2 - Prime Quality Fish Products Strategic Landing Ports Landing Port Infrastructure Onshore Handling and Transportation Processing Plant Modernization Product Branding
NL-GIDC Going Forward Finalize our Strategic Plan Present to Members and Governments Development of a stewardship plan for 2J3KL cod for 2018 Finalize the NL-GIDC Website Continue to monitor the NL Cod Fisheries evaluate priorities for investment in the harvesting and processing Sectors work with the FSSSB quality project to ensure proper at sea and onshore handling procedures are maintained promote NL Cod and other NL seafood as prime quality products at the top of the seafood market support the WWF/FFAW fisheries Improvement Project and hopefully make progress in combining this with the GEAC/ASP FIP Begin to expand NL-GIDC work into other Groundfish Stocks (Redfish, GHL, Atl Halibut, etc.) 13