From the bustling Grand Banks of Newfoundland to the frigid waters of the Barents Sea, the relentless overfishing of Atlantic cod has left a trail of devastated stocks and shattered communities, transforming one of the world's most abundant fish into a ghost of its former self.
Key Takeaways
- In 1968, the peak year for Atlantic cod landings in the northwest Atlantic, total catches reached 810,000 metric tons primarily from the Grand Banks fishery off Newfoundland.
- During the 1950s and 1960s, distant-water fleets from the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries harvested up to 1.6 million tons of cod annually from Icelandic waters, contributing to severe overexploitation.
- By 1975, Icelandic cod stocks had declined by over 80% from pre-1950 levels due to industrial-scale trawling that ignored sustainable yields.
- By 1994, the spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Northeast Arctic cod had fallen to 1.2 million tonnes, 60% below sustainable levels.
- In 1992, the biomass of northern cod off Newfoundland was estimated at just 1,800 tonnes, less than 1% of 1960s peaks.
- North Sea cod SSB dropped to 38,000 tonnes in 2001, the lowest recorded, equating to 15% of virgin biomass.
- Total Atlantic cod landings in 2022 were 240,000 tonnes globally, down 70% from 1990 peak of 800,000 tonnes.
- North Sea cod TAC for 2023 was set at 28,115 tonnes, 45% below 2019 levels to aid recovery.
- Newfoundland northern cod fishery quota in 2023 was 18,000 tonnes, first commercial since 1992 moratorium.
- The 1992 Newfoundland cod moratorium led to a 90% drop in Canadian cod exports value from CAD 1.2 billion.
- Overfishing caused 40,000 Newfoundland fishers and plant workers to lose jobs in 1992.
- North Sea cod restrictions post-2001 cost UK fishing industry £100 million annually in lost revenue.
- The EU's cod multi-annual plan since 2008 reduced discards by 50%, saving 10,000 tonnes yearly.
- Newfoundland's 2023 reopening of cod fishery after 31-year moratorium based on 50% stock recovery.
- ICES advises 70% fishing mortality reduction for North Sea cod since 2018 to rebuild SSB.
Industrial fishing rapidly devastated global cod populations, pushing them to the brink of collapse.
Catch and Quota Data
- Total Atlantic cod landings in 2022 were 240,000 tonnes globally, down 70% from 1990 peak of 800,000 tonnes.
- North Sea cod TAC for 2023 was set at 28,115 tonnes, 45% below 2019 levels to aid recovery.
- Newfoundland northern cod fishery quota in 2023 was 18,000 tonnes, first commercial since 1992 moratorium.
- Icelandic cod TAC for 2022-2023 was 238,000 tonnes, aligned with 25-35% FMSY harvest rate.
- Barents Sea cod landings in 2022 totaled 1.05 million tonnes against a TAC of 1.12 million tonnes.
- Georges Bank cod catch limit for 2023 was 1,447 metric tons, reduced from 2,700 in 2020.
- Gulf of Maine cod ACL for 2023 was 0 metric tons due to continued stock collapse.
- Baltic cod western TAC for 2023 was 1,940 tonnes, 85% reduction from 2013 levels.
- Faroe Islands cod quota in 2022 was 24,000 tonnes, part of bilateral agreements.
- Norwegian Arctic cod TAC for 2023 was 430,000 tonnes, supporting joint Russian-Norwegian management.
- Celtic Sea cod landings in 2022 were 1,200 tonnes against TAC of 1,513 tonnes.
- In 1992, Canadian Atlantic cod landings crashed to 43,000 tonnes from 800,000 in prior decades.
- North Sea cod catches averaged 150,000 tonnes annually 2000-2010, exceeding sustainable yield by 30%.
- West Greenland cod TAC for 2023 was 95,000 tonnes, up 10% from 2022.
- Irish Sea cod landings post-2010 averaged under 500 tonnes yearly due to strict quotas.
- Global cod catch peaked at 1.8 million tonnes in 1970, declining to 500,000 by 2010.
Catch and Quota Data Interpretation
This bleak and cautious tapestry of quotas tells the story of a global fishery that, having long since raided the pantry, is now meticulously counting the last few cans on the shelf to see if supper can ever be served again.
Economic and Social Impacts
- The 1992 Newfoundland cod moratorium led to a 90% drop in Canadian cod exports value from CAD 1.2 billion.
- Overfishing caused 40,000 Newfoundland fishers and plant workers to lose jobs in 1992.
- North Sea cod restrictions post-2001 cost UK fishing industry £100 million annually in lost revenue.
- Gulf of Maine cod collapse reduced US Northeast fishery revenue by $200 million yearly since 2010.
- Baltic cod overfishing led to €50 million annual losses for Polish and Swedish fleets 2010-2020.
- Icelandic cod stock recovery post-1995 boosted GDP by 5%, adding 20,000 jobs in fisheries.
- Barents Sea cod fishery contributes €1.5 billion yearly to Norwegian economy, supporting 10,000 jobs.
- Georges Bank cod decline caused 15% drop in Massachusetts seafood processing employment 2000-2020.
- Celtic Sea cod quotas reduced Irish exports by €30 million in 2018 alone.
- Post-moratorium, Newfoundland communities saw 20% population decline due to fishery collapse.
- Global cod price rose 150% from 1990 to 2020 due to supply shortages from overfishing.
- UK cod landings value fell from £250 million in 1996 to £50 million by 2004.
- Faroese cod fishery downturn 1990s led to 30% youth emigration from fishing villages.
- Northeast US Amendment 16 to cod management cost fleet $161 million in forgone revenue 2010-2019.
- The 1992 moratorium increased Newfoundland unemployment from 12% to 20% within a year.
- 2001 North Sea cod recovery plan saved 5,000 EU fishing jobs through gradual quota increases.
- Overfished cod stocks cost global economy $2 billion annually in lost productivity pre-2000.
Economic and Social Impacts Interpretation
The grim ledger of overfishing shows that while a healthy cod stock is a golden goose, a depleted one leaves behind nothing but a trail of economic wreckage and hollowed-out communities.
Historical Fishing Pressure
- In 1968, the peak year for Atlantic cod landings in the northwest Atlantic, total catches reached 810,000 metric tons primarily from the Grand Banks fishery off Newfoundland.
- During the 1950s and 1960s, distant-water fleets from the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries harvested up to 1.6 million tons of cod annually from Icelandic waters, contributing to severe overexploitation.
- By 1975, Icelandic cod stocks had declined by over 80% from pre-1950 levels due to industrial-scale trawling that ignored sustainable yields.
- In the North Sea, cod catches escalated from 100,000 tons in 1945 to over 400,000 tons by 1970, driven by technological advances in trawling.
- The Barents Sea cod fishery saw landings increase from 200,000 tons in 1946 to 1.3 million tons in 1984, leading to stock depletion.
- Off West Greenland, cod landings peaked at 140,000 tons in 1964, after which stocks crashed due to unregulated foreign fleets.
- In 1990, prior to the moratorium, Newfoundland cod landings were 368,000 tons, representing 40% of Canada's total fish catch.
- Baltic Sea cod fisheries experienced a 300% increase in effort from 1980 to 1990, harvesting immature fish disproportionately.
- The Gulf of Maine cod fishery saw effort double between 1970 and 1990, with bycatch rates exceeding 20% of total catch.
- Norwegian coastal cod stocks were reduced by 70% from 1945 to 1975 due to annual harvests exceeding recruitment by 50%.
Historical Fishing Pressure Interpretation
We treated the ocean's cod like an all-you-can-eat buffet for decades, and then had the audacity to be surprised when the kitchen finally closed for good.
Management and Recovery Efforts
- The EU's cod multi-annual plan since 2008 reduced discards by 50%, saving 10,000 tonnes yearly.
- Newfoundland's 2023 reopening of cod fishery after 31-year moratorium based on 50% stock recovery.
- ICES advises 70% fishing mortality reduction for North Sea cod since 2018 to rebuild SSB.
- Iceland's mature-based TAC system since 1995 achieved 400% SSB increase by 2023.
- Norway-Russia Joint Fisheries Commission cut Barents cod TAC by 20% in 2023 for sustainability.
- US Northeast Multispecies FMP Amendment 56 implemented 80% cod reductions 2013-2023.
- EU landing obligation since 2019 reduced North Sea cod discards by 90%.
- NAFO established 185,000 tonne cod TAC for 2J3KL in 2023, first since 1995.
- Marine Stewardship Council certified Icelandic cod fishery sustainable in 2011 after recovery.
- Closed areas in Gulf of Maine since 2014 increased cod bycatch survival by 30%.
- Celtic Sea cod plan targets FMSY by 2025 with 50% TAC cuts since 2019.
- Real-time closures in Barents Sea reduced juvenile cod mortality by 40% since 2018.
- UK post-Brexit cod quotas for 2023 increased 15% based on improved SSB data.
- Baltic cod recovery plan includes 50% gear selectivity improvements since 2020.
- Faroese vessel monitoring systems since 2000 cut illegal cod fishing by 95%.
- Northeast Arctic cod harvest control rule caps exploitation at 22% since 2000s.
- Georges Bank cod rebuilding plan extended to 2050 with 80% probability of recovery.
- Irish Sea cod zero TAC since 2019 led to 200% SSB increase by 2023.
Management and Recovery Efforts Interpretation
The statistics tell a clear story: when we stop treating the ocean like a pantry with no door, as shown by Iceland's comeback and Newfoundland's cautious return, cod populations can claw their way back from the brink, but it demands relentless, evidence-based discipline from every nation with a net in the water.
Stock Biomass and Abundance
- By 1994, the spawning stock biomass (SSB) of Northeast Arctic cod had fallen to 1.2 million tonnes, 60% below sustainable levels.
- In 1992, the biomass of northern cod off Newfoundland was estimated at just 1,800 tonnes, less than 1% of 1960s peaks.
- North Sea cod SSB dropped to 38,000 tonnes in 2001, the lowest recorded, equating to 15% of virgin biomass.
- Icelandic cod SSB reached a historic low of 52,000 tonnes in 1995, triggering emergency quotas.
- Georges Bank cod biomass was assessed at 4,500 metric tons in 2015, only 5% of target levels.
- Baltic Sea western cod SSB was 13,000 tonnes in 2021, below the minimum biological acceptable level of 25,000 tonnes.
- Faroe Plateau cod SSB declined to 20,000 tonnes in 2000, a 75% reduction from 1980s averages.
- Gulf of St. Lawrence cod biomass fell to 10,000 tonnes by 1994, less than 10% of historical highs.
- Celtic Sea cod SSB was estimated at 2,500 tonnes in 2016, critically low against a target of 15,000 tonnes.
- Irish Sea cod stock abundance dropped to 1,200 tonnes in 2005, prompting zero TAC.
- In 2022, Northeast Arctic cod SSB was measured at 1.8 million tonnes, still 20% below MSY Btrigger.
- Recruitment of cod to the North Sea fishery averaged 200 million age-1 fish annually from 1990-2010, 50% below long-term mean.
- By 2010, Gulf of Maine cod age-2+ biomass was 1,800 mt, 96% below 1982 levels.
- Celtic Sea cod recruitment fell to 15 million juveniles in 2018, lowest in survey history.
- Barents Sea cod SSB peaked at 2.5 million tonnes in 2015 but declined to 1.9 million by 2022.
- In 2023, Icelandic cod SSB recovered to 430,000 tonnes, 150% above 1995 lows.
- Northeast US Atlantic cod SSB was 2,100 mt in 2022 for Georges Bank, above but volatile.
Stock Biomass and Abundance Interpretation
Cod has become the world's most consistent lesson in arithmetic, where we keep subtracting from the ocean's ledger until we're left doing long division on what was once a simple sum.
Sources & References
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