A new assessment of Atlantic cod stocks in parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is highlighting a concern that’s been building for years and hasn’t improved.
Researchers studying areas like the Bay of Fundy and the Scotian Shelf found that cod populations remain in what’s considered a “critical zone,” a designation they’ve held since around 2008. The latest data, based on 2024–2025 observations, shows the lowest number of young fish ever recorded, along with consistently high mortality rates.
One of the more striking findings is the shift in the age of the population. Older cod, once a regular part of the ecosystem, have largely disappeared from surveys and bycatch since the 1990s. That change makes recovery even more difficult, as fewer mature fish means fewer opportunities for the population to rebuild naturally.
Despite tight management, including cod being limited to bycatch-only fishing with a controlled quota, scientists say recovery isn’t guaranteed. Groups like Oceans North point out that weakened populations are more vulnerable to additional pressures.
And the causes aren’t simple. Researchers believe it’s likely a combination of factors, including predation, shifting ocean temperatures, and broader impacts from climate change, which is affecting parts of Atlantic Canada at an accelerated rate.
The situation is a reminder that even with reduced fishing pressure, rebuilding a collapsed species is a long and uncertain process, one that depends not just on policy, but on environmental conditions that are still changing.
