Northern Cod ‘Fishery Improvement Project’ stakeholders gather as iconic stock officially enters assessment process for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification

Barcelona, Spain

The latest science from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirms the Northern cod stock has grown by approximately 20% in a single year, well within the ‘Healthy Zone’ under DFO’s precautionary approach framework.

This milestone comes just two years after the return of the commercial fishery. The stock continues to be the largest spawning stock biomass of any cod stock globally, at 540,000 tonnes.

The details were released by DFO as part of its annual science assessment for the stock, located off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

“The 2026 science assessment is incredibly positive. We are seeing real, measurable growth and strong signals that the stock will continue to grow in the years ahead,” explained Vanessa Bourgeois, Director of Fisheries Management and Science with the Atlantic Groundfish Council. “Equally encouraging is the improved confidence in the reliability of the science itself.”

DFO Science put significant effort into addressing historical retrospective challenges with the assessment model. As a result, there was consensus among scientists and experts in the peer-review process that the model is performing reliably and the retrospective issues have been resolved.

This progress is especially important as industry continues to work toward Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

“The MSC standard for sustainability was established in response to the collapse of Northern cod a generation ago,” said Carey Bonnell, Vice President of Sustainability and Engagement at Ocean Choice International. “This latest assessment is another important step toward meeting that standard and achieving globally recognized sustainability certification. It represents a remarkable recovery—and something Newfoundlanders and Labradorians – and Canadians more broadly – can take pride in.”

Canada’s Northern cod fishery remains among the most precautionary in the world, with fishing levels significantly lower than those in leading cod-producing nations such as Iceland and Norway.

“Customers in the UK, France and North America are eager to buy more Canadian cod so this is very welcome news,” said Alberto Wareham, President and CEO of Icewater Seafoods, which operates North America’s only processing facility dedicated exclusively to North Atlantic cod. “It also gives customers confidence that total allowable catch levels may continue to increase, which is also important for our 280 employees in Arnold’s Cove who never lost faith in this fishery.”

There is significant cod processing capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador to support near-term stock growth, with additional investments underway to ensure the province is well-positioned to process increasing volumes in the years ahead.

“We have an opportunity right now to build a modern, sustainable cod fishery that delivers long-term benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador,” Derrick Dalley, CEO of Ueushuk Fisheries, owner of Harbour Grace Shrimp Company.  “The science is clear, and the continued recovery of Northern cod represents a major economic opportunity for the province – especially if the fishery is structured to fully utilize available quota and maximize value.”

Following last week’s science assessment, AGC and its members are preparing for DFO’s Northern Cod Advisory meeting next week, where industry stakeholders will provide recommendations on management measures for the fishery.