April 15, 2020
Dear Stakeholder:
On May 13, 1998, the Fisheries Conservation Council (FRCC) will hold a public consultation at 9:00 A.M. in the Yarmouth Room of the RODD GRAND HOTEL in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to gather information on Georges Bank groundfish stocks.
Stakeholders’ views will assist the FRCC in providing advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans regarding conservation requirements for Georges Bank haddock, cod and yellowtail flounder, subarea 5Zjm. The FRCC is committed to the continued rebuilding of Georges Bank groundfish stocks in order to attain a sustainable yield, closer to the long term average.
To help focus the discussion at the Yarmouth consultation, the FRCC has produced the following questions:
2. How can we best enhance rebuilding of the stocks, e.g., fish at F0.1 or less, ensuring more spawners and larger fish are left to produce adequate recruitment?1. Based on your knowledge of Georges Bank, are we at a comfortable level of biomass? What rebuilding threshold should we be seeking to reach?
3. Were last year’s FRCC recommendations appropriate to allow a clean fishery without dumping and discards? What should this year’s recommendation be with respect to the proper mix between cod and haddock?
4. Is June 1 still an appropriate opening date for this fishery?
5. Should there be additional conservation measures in this fishery and what should they be?
6. Do you feel the later-than-usual appearance of haddock in the 1997 fishery was a warning sign or cause for concern?
Stakeholders are invited to make public presentations by way of oral presentation or by providing us with a written brief. The Council has also asked the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to present new data from its 1998 Stock Status Reports at the meeting. For further information, or if you are unable to attend and wish to submit a brief, please contact the FRCC:
Fisheries Resource Conservation CouncilYour views are important to the Council and we hope you will participate.
Sincerely,
Fred Woodman
Chairman