Northern cod

Marine scientists and conservationists are calling on officials to pause Newfoundland and Labrador's commercial capelin fishery.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has decided to increase the annual Atlantic cod quota despite stocks remaining critically low for three decades, a move Oceana Canada is calling “a recipe for disaster.”

A slow and steady approach to rebuilding the northern cod stock could see employment in the crucial fishery skyrocket in just over a decade, according to a new study.

Northern cod stocks off Newfoundland suffered a steep decline over the last year, with Fisheries official finding the species has a lower survival rate and will likely continue to decease in the coming year.