This division, 2J3KL, was closed to fishing for 32 years following the collapse of cod stocks in Canadian and Newfoundland waters.
This year, the total allowable catch (TAC) more than doubled compared to 2024, reaching 40,000 tons, with a quota for Portugal set at 495 tons for the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Last year, the TAC was set at 18,947 tons, with Portugal’s quota at 234 tons.
The area was reopened last year following the issuance of the scientific opinion by Canada and the subsequent establishment of fishing possibilities by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), with the TAC and respective quotas in effect from July 1 of each year to June 30 of the following year.
The distant Portuguese trawler fleet operates in the NAFO regulatory area through a limited number of vessels, targeting demersal species such as cod, Greenland halibut, and redfish, among others.
The cod TAC negotiated between the EU and Canada will be included in the December fisheries negotiations package for 2026.
