Fishing for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) with pots and gillnets: A catch comparison study along the southeast coast of Labrador

Gillnets are the primary fishing gear used to catch Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in coastal areas of Newfoundland and Labrador but are known to catch non-target species and produce lower quality fish than live-catch methods. The purpose of this study was to compare the catch efficiency of collapsible cod pots against gillnets near the Gilbert Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA), Labrador, where a reduction in by-catch is needed. Results showed that one cod pot caught half as much Atlantic cod as a gillnet, and pots had a relatively stable catch rate throughout the sampling period, whereas gillnets caught relatively few fish later in the sampling season. Moreover, nearly all fish sampled with pots were caught alive undamaged, whereas most gillnet-caught fish experienced damage or mortality. As a conservation measure pot-fishing would enable fishing within close proximity to the Gilbert Bay MPA and the live-release of visually distinguishable Gilbert Bay cod, thereby mitigating against the negative effects of commercial fishing on this protected Atlantic cod population.