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by Madeleine Hall-Arber
ST. JOHNS, NEWFOUNDLAND - Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Gulf of Maine Council are currently supporting a large cod-tagging project in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine that is designed to dovetail with proposed US cooperative cod-tagging efforts.
In the past, Canadian cod-tagging projects have focused on winter spawning grounds on Browns and Georges Banks, according to DFO coordinator Don Clark.
In contrast, this project is targeting cod caught on the summer feeding grounds, such as around the mouth of the Bay of Fundy and German and Roseway Banks.
Tag returns eventually should tell scientists whether the management areas designated in the 1930s and 40s are still appropriate. Researchers also hope to shed some light on migration and distribution patterns and stock abundance.
DFO's Donald Clark (white hat) places a tag in a cod caught aboard the trawler Scotia Provider just off Brier Island, Nova Scotia in the Bay of Fundy. Assisting with the tagging procedure are, from left, Kimbal Nesbitt, David Raymond, Lori White, and Christy Nelson.
14,000 cod tagged
The tagging of 14,000 cod began in May 2001, although almost 30% of the tags were placed in fish during October and November.
The Center for Community-Based Management of St. Francis Xavier University and the Scotia-Fundy Mobile Gear Fishermen's Association each hired a recent graduate to go out on the 20 fishing vessels that have participated in the tagging so far.
When the interns go out with hook fishermen - longliners and handliners - all cod caught in excess of the vessel's quota are tagged and released.
Because of Canada's strict quota management on cod, trawlers are generally targeting haddock or other groundfish, so tagging of trawl-caught cod has been done on dedicated trips with very short tows.
Similar to the US experimental fishery permit, the Canadian boats need a special "sampling permit" to be allowed to tag and release fish. Otherwise, the fish would be considered discards.
Results to date
The rate of returns had been low with only about 130-140 tags retrieved by the end of December. However, landings are highest June through October, so the scientists were optimistic that returns would increase come summer.
Indeed, the later returns may prove to be the most valuable by indicating: migration patterns; whether there are returns to the same area tagged; or whether there is mixing and redistribution of the stocks.
Interestingly, a couple of fish tagged north of Grand Manan in June and November respectively were recently caught off Portland, ME.
While some Canadian fishermen are as suspicious of DFO as many US fishermen tend to be of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the prevailing attitude is supportive. The view seems to be that if cod-tagging improves the accuracy of assessments and decisions are based on sound information, everyone will be better off in the long run.
Return rewards
Tags returned to St. Andrews Biological Station in New Brunswick should be accompanied with information on gear type used to catch the tagged fish, location, date of capture, and length of the fish.
The immediate reward for a tag return is a hat. Additional prizes, such as jackets and rain gear, have been donated by local businesses. These and a grand prize of $1,000 will be awarded by lottery.
