NAFO

NAFO stands for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, an intergovernmental body established in 1979 by the Convention on the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries to promote the conservation and rational use of fishery resources in the Northwest Atlantic. It covers waters off eastern Canada and adjacent areas where many commercially important stocks occur.

Member states include Canada and the United States, along with several European countries that fish in the region. The organization operates through regular meetings of its members and a scientific arm that provides stock assessments and management advice. It also maintains a Secretariat to coordinate administration and the development of measures.

Conservation and Management Measures set by NAFO address quotas or catching limits, effort controls, gear restrictions, seasonal closures, and area-based protections. These measures are supported by enforcement efforts by member authorities to ensure compliance, sometimes with joint patrols and inspections. NAFO’s Scientific Council contributes to policy by evaluating stock status, trends, and the potential effects of management actions.

NAFO’s work aims to promote sustainable exploitation of shared fishery resources and to prevent overfishing in the Northwest Atlantic. It is part of the broader system of regional fisheries management organizations established under international law to manage shared stocks and to coordinate with other RFMO frameworks.