/ ©: Jarrett Corke / WWF-Canada

Rebuilding cod

Rebuilding cod - $1 billion opportunity

Centuries ago, the waters off Atlantic Canada were described as 'alive' with cod. For 500 years an estimated 100 million tonnes of cod were harvested, making Canada's abundant cod stocks famous around the world. Cod sustained a major fishery and was the mainstay of the economy in Atlantic Canada—until its complete collapse from overfishing in the early 1990s.

Sadly, cod on the Grand Banks continues to be caught as bycatch (the unintended capture of non-target fish.)

A healthy and sustainable cod fishing industry is important because it would not only support a healthier ecosystem, but also contribute over $1 billion into the Atlantic Canada economy each year. Our progress in this region will also help save other species at risk and provide a healthier natural world for us all.

Read:  Raising the Sunken Billions report

Dispatch from Newfoundland

Listen to a story of WWF staff member Janice Ryan, and her experiences growing up on the Grand Banks.

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/ ©: Gilbert Van Ryckevorsel / WWF-Canada
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) aquaculture, Newfoundland, Canada
© Gilbert Van Ryckevorsel / WWF-Canada
WWF focuses on retailers' considerable buying power to transform the fishing practices of individual fishers and strengthen the management of fisheries.


Science and success

Conservation experts see a fragile recovery of cod stocks in the Grand Banks and other Atlantic fishing areas. With ocean temperatures and conditions ideal for a comeback, several young cod populations have been identified.

If fishing practices are reformed we can put conservation measures in place to help cod reproduce and double the amount of spawning cod.

Unfortunately, though, every time one of these cod populations begins to take hold, they are caught in nets meant for other fish. This is what is known in the industry as ‘bycatch.’

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Atlantic Cod
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Raising the Sunken Billions

For more information about the FIRME, download the PDF

The future of fisheries

WWF’s fisheries improvement project focuses on the long-term, sustainable management of Atlantic cod in Newfoundland and Labrador. This includes complying with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard.

We’ve partnered with Icewater Seafoods Inc.—a groundfish company in Newfoundland. Icewater is North America’s largest processor of Atlantic cod, and it supplies premium Atlantic cod from Newfoundland to other companies (primarily in Europe) that have pledged to source only certified ‘sustainable seafood.’

The Future of Fisheries


/ ©: Alyssa Bistonath / WWF-Canada
Snow crab pots stored on the wharf in St. John's, Newfoundland. Biodegradable thread is woven into the pots.
© Alyssa Bistonath / WWF-Canada

The Way forward

WWF is working on these next steps:

  • The immediate protection of critical habitats. Instead of fishing away new cod before it can take hold, we’ll identify areas that are essential to marine life on the Grand Banks.

  • Strengthen existing regulations. WWF will pressure NAFO (the regulating body that governs all of the nations that fish on the Grand Banks, including Canada) to close loopholes disregard conservation measures.

  • Address over-capacity. There are too many boats chasing too few fish, which is the root cause of over-fishing and bycatch.

  • Help develop smarter fishing gear. This will reduce the amount of marine life killed needlessly.

  • Develop science-based solutions. Invest in better scientific research, monitoring and reporting to plan the use of our marine resources with accurate information.

  • Promote innovative conservation financing. Help develop and promote finance solutions to overcome the initial costs of conservation and restructuring fisheries.

  • Make MSC-certified seafood available to Canadians.


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