Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish Fishery Survey

Atlantic Cod

The Newfoundland and Labrador groundfish food fishery is a keystone component of the province’s deep cultural connection with fishing and the sea.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently announced that the agency is asking Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to share their views on the future of the province’s cod food fishery. The survey results will guide the management decision for the 2026 season and beyond.

The online survey is open until January 9, 2026, to get feedback on how the fishery should be managed moving forward.

The survey asks for input on key topics such as:

• Length of the fishing season;
• Limits for individuals and boats; and
• Management approaches for the food fishery considering the three distinct cod stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Written feedback can also be emailed to DFO (recgroundfishnl@dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

Newfoundland and Labrador Food Fishery Facts

The Newfoundland and Labrador Food Fishery allows residents and visitors to catch limited amounts of groundfish (including cod) for personal use only, during the established season, with no requirement for a licence.

Management measures for the 2025 season allowed participants to keep up to 5 fish per person per day (maximum 15 per boat). 

The management approach for recreation groundfish fisheries in Canada varies by region, based on target species, stock status and availability, and the level of participation.

In Atlantic Canada, for example, some parts of Quebec and New Brunswick have 37-39 day seasons and daily limits up to 5 cod and/or white hake, while in parts of Nova Scotia cod may only be fished from the third Saturday in June to early September, compared to the current Newfoundland and Labrador schedule, which runs until the end of September.

There are three distinct cod stocks primarily fished in the Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish Fishery: Northern cod (NAFO Divisions 2J3KL), 3Ps cod (NAFO Division 3Ps), and Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod (NAFO Division 3Pn4RS).

The total landed value of the Northern cod commercial fishery in 2024 was approximately $37.5 million benefiting harvesters, crew members, plant workers, and Indigenous groups in coastal communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Since 2022, the 3Pn4RS commercial cod fishery has been under moratorium, with limited Food Social Ceremonial (FSC) and recreational access due to its critical stock status.  

There is a limited commercial fishery for cod in 3Ps with a Total Allowable Catch of 1,251 tonnes in 2025-26.

source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

2019 New Hampshire Striped Bass Survey

Striped Bass

Again this year, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFGD) is asking anglers who fished for striped bass in New Hampshire’s coastal waters to report their catch and effort online at www.fishnh.com/surveys/striped-bass.html.

Participating anglers will be helping marine biologists manage these popular sport fish, and you could win a prize just for taking part in the survey effort.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Marine Fisheries Division has conducted an annual Striped Bass Volunteer Angler Survey since 1993.

Each year, volunteers of all experience levels complete logbooks documenting information about their striped bass fishing trips in New Hampshire’s coastal waters.

Anglers who fished for striped bass are asked to provide information on their trips, including catch, effort, and striped bass lengths.

By collecting and recording the lengths of released fish, this survey provides a more complete picture of the fishery in New Hampshire than general fishing surveys Fish and Game conducts each year.

Anglers who take part are entered into a drawing for prizes donated by the Coastal Conservation Association of New Hampshire (CCA-NH) and Kittery Trading Post to encourage participation in this voluntary survey.

Striped bass surveys in New Hampshire are funded in part by the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program.

For more information about the New Hampshire Striped Bass Survey, visit the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department website (wildlife.nh.gov).

source: New Hampshire Fish and Game

NOAA Recreational Bait and Tackle Economic Survey

NOAA Fisheries is conducting the Recreational Bait and Tackle Economic Survey to better understand the economic contributions of saltwater bait and tackle stores.

The study will focus on retail stores that sell bait and tackle to marine recreational anglers in coastal communities located in 23 U.S. states on the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific coasts, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Over the course of the summer of 2014, selected stores will receive mail surveys asking about their business’ costs and revenues, employment, and structure.

source: NOAA Fisheries