Miꞌkmaꞌki/Nova Scotia – On July 3, the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Joanne Thompson, made the decision to increase the total allowable catch of Atlantic Mackerel from 500 tonnes to 1500 tonnes. The Ecology Action Centre (EAC) says this is a risky decision that leaves the rebuilding of an important forage stock to the flip of a coin.
Atlantic Mackerel has been in the critical zone since 2011. The commercial fishery in Canada was closed in 2022 to allow for rebuilding and remains closed. The 1500 tonnes is allocated for a personal bait fishery, bycatch and science. Atlantic Mackerel is a migratory stock, fished in both Canada and the United States.
“With such an important forage fish species in the critical zone of the Fisheries Act for 15 years now, we were hopeful that, finally, the government was prioritizing the commercial closure and rebuilding plan in place. While a moderate increase, this decision risks the progress made towards rebuilding. Being in the critical zone should mean that removals are restricted to the absolute lowest possible level, to promote growth,” says Holly Isnor, fisheries program manager with the EAC. “Staying the course and following a precautionary approach now will better position the stock to support a sustainable commercial fishery in the future.”
The decision comes after the Minister initiated an off-year stock assessment. The assessment was initiated, in part, by an increase in the United States total allowable catch and a stock assessment showing the Southern contingent of Atlantic Mackerel, not fished by Canada, has increased.
“We have no co-management with the U.S, and while we have no control over their actions, we do have the ability to set the example for how to rectify decades of overfishing and mismanagement,” says Isnor.
The Minister cited peer-reviewed science, industry input and socio-economic considerations in her decision. Instead of following the objectives of the mackerel rebuilding plan that was implemented only two years ago after extensive consultation with stakeholders, including fish harvesters, the Minister unilaterally changed those objectives to allow for what the EAC sees as a riskier catch level. While the previous plan required a 75 per cent probability that the population would continue to increase, the change allowed the Minister to choose a catch level that offers only just above a 50 per cent probability that the population will continue to grow.
“In a time when the federal government is announcing major funding and staffing cuts, we are deeply concerned with the Minister’s choice to conduct this off-year stock assessment. Using additional resources and time to complete this assessment when a stock assessment was already completed last year, and another is planned for next year, is a disappointing use of taxpayer dollars,” says Isnor.
The updated assessment provides some indication of progress, with the stock moving from 35 per cent to 52 per cent of the limit reference point between the 2024 and 2025 assessments. While that increase is encouraging, the EAC cautions, Atlantic Mackerel remains well within the critical zone and supports continued precautionary catch levels.
“A management decision that followed the rebuilding plan was already in place for 2026,” says Isnor. “The Minister’s announcement backtracks on that standing decision and puts not only the long-term sustainability of the Atlantic Mackerel stock at risk, but also the possibility of a future commercial fishery."
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Holly Isnor
Fisheries Program Manager | Ecology Action Centre
902-580-0600
holly.isnor@ecologyaction.ca