Moratorium on mackerel fishing in Canadian waters extended

Last week the Department of Fisheries and Oceans extended the moratorium on mackerel fishing in Canadian waters for the 2023 season, a move SEA-NL says is unacceptable.

DFO says the closure is necessary to allow the stock to rebuild.

SEA-NL said, "Fishermen reported unprecedented schools of mackerel along Newfoundland’s northeast coast right up to January, with thousands of fish washing up dead on beaches along the northeast coast."

Fishing mackerel for food and ceremonial fisheries remains open. Bait is used for fisheries such as tuna, lobster and crab.

The United States continues to fish the same stock, the quota is lower this year.