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OTTAWA - The federal government is reopening the recreational cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador for one day next Saturday.

The fishery has been hit with bad weather and some fishermen complained that high winds cost them four days out of the nine that were available.

Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn says a one-day addition is justifiable.

"After reviewing statistics from this year's recreational cod fishery, and in light of bad weather last Saturday, I have determined there is sufficient flexibility to authorize the re-opening of the fishery for one more day," he says in a statement on Saturday.

The fishery will be re-opened next Saturday morning and will close that evening.

Hearn says current bag and vessel limits will remain in place.

The Fisheries Department says more details on the re-opening of the fishery will be announced in the coming days.

There have been some scientists and environmental groups that have been critical of the recreational cod fishery as the species is starting to rebound from its collapse more than 15 years ago.

During the recreational fishery, also known as the food fishery, there is a daily bag limit of five fish per person, or 15 fish onboard boats with three or more people

Hearn has called the fishery a cautious one, adding that Newfoundlanders have complied with the rules and that stock levels have grown slightly in the last two years.