Cod Stock Hits Lowest Level in Recorded History

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans reports the 3Ps cod stock has reached its lowest level on record amid record ocean temperatures.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Environmental

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single cod silhouette sinking through cold blue water, with a thin coral warm-temperature band across the upper sea. — Record ocean temperatures have pushed the 3Ps cod stock to its lowest level on record, prompting DFO scientist Divya Varkey's working group to weigh severe limits on removals. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should fishing limits be tightened to protect cod, even if it hurts local jobs?

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans reported that the 3Ps cod stock is at its lowest level in history, placing it in the critical zone. A DFO research scientist has recommended severely limiting removals from the stock.

Why it matters

Record high ocean temperatures are affecting the productivity of the 3Ps cod stock, raising concerns about its ability to recover. The outcome will shape fishing limits and conservation measures for Canadian and French fishing interests in the region.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans set the 2025-26 Total Allowable Catch at 1,026 tonnes, based on a stock assessment showing the population at its lowest recorded level. The final management response remains unresolved pending stakeholder consultations.

The players

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Canada's federal department responsible for managing the country's fisheries, including stock assessments and catch limits for species such as cod.

Divya Varkey

A DFO research scientist who chairs the working group examining the response to the 3Ps cod stock's decline.

The details

Record high ocean temperatures are affecting the stock's productivity, and a rebuilding plan is already in place for the 3Ps cod stock. DFO research scientist Divya Varkey's working group is set to meet to discuss how to proceed.

The 2025-26 fishing season set a Total Allowable Catch of 1,026 tonnes.
DFO reported the stock at its lowest level in history on November 7, 2026.

Environmental Context

The 3Ps cod stock's decline echoes the 1992 collapse of Northern cod off Newfoundland and Labrador, which ended in a fishing moratorium. Today's record ocean temperatures add a warming-driven pressure that the earlier collapse did not face in the same form.

Consumers who buy cod should check current fishing advisories and sustainability labels before purchasing. Recreational and commercial fishers in the region should monitor official DFO announcements for any changes to catch limits or closures.

The takeaway

Ocean warming is now directly reducing the productivity of commercially important fish stocks, making conservation planning more urgent. Decisions on catch limits will reflect both the stock's condition and the input of Canadian and French stakeholders.