Author Description

Severe resource declines, falling prices and rapidly escalating costs of catching and processing combined in 1974 to threaten the survival of the Canadian Atlantic groundfish industry. A major objective of the new 200-mile management regime is to rebuild the resource so as to provide increased catches and catch rates for Canadian fishermen. In order to rebuild the fish stocks rapidly, Canada is applying stringent conservation measures within its 200-mile fisheries zone. To provide a basis for planning and development of Canada's east coast fisheries, Fisheries and Oceans scientists prepared in 1977 a comprehensive foecast of resource prospects for Atlantic coast fish, shellfish, marine mammals and marine plants to the mid-1980's. This document represents the revision for the 1981 fishing year. These projections, which are given in the form of a projected Total allowable Catch (TAC) for each stock, should be viewed only as a general guide to likely events. While 1981 predictions are based largely on formal calculations, and actual events should not differ widely from those predicted, projections of stock status in later years are to a considerable extent best guesses, based on inadequate knowledge.