Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
We don't have the science needed to sustainably manage fisheries in Canada. Find out more at fisheryaudit.ca
Given a chance, depleted fish populations can come back. For example, after many years in the critical zone due to overfishing in the early 1990s, deepwater redfish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence recently increased to historically high abundance. This is because of an unexpected boom in juvenile survival from 2011 to 2013, and these redfish are now approaching sexual maturity. To make the most of this opportunity for redfish and for the Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystem, strong science is essential.In 2018, DFO established an experimental research fishery to explore ways for harvesters to target the more-abundant deepwater redfish and avoid the less-abundant Acadian redfish. It is also helping to determine how many of each species are being caught and identifying ways to reduce impacts on small redfish, depleted species and sensitive habitats. The results of this research must inform the rules of a management plan to ensure a sustainable fishery and continue this comeback story.
We don't have the science needed to sustainably manage fisheries in Canada. Find out more at fisheryaudit.ca
Given a chance, depleted fish populations can come back. For example, after many years in the critical zone due to overfishing in the early 1990s, deepwater redfish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence recently increased to historically high abundance. This is because of an unexpected boom in juvenile survival from 2011 to 2013, and these redfish are now approaching sexual maturity. To make the most of this opportunity for redfish and for the Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystem, strong science is essential.In 2018, DFO established an experimental research fishery to explore ways for harvesters to target the more-abundant deepwater redfish and avoid the less-abundant Acadian redfish. It is also helping to determine how many of each species are being caught and identifying ways to reduce impacts on small redfish, depleted species and sensitive habitats. The results of this research must inform the rules of a management plan to ensure a sustainable fishery and continue this comeback story.
