Proceedings 2016/043

Proceedings of the Maritimes Regional Peer Review of the Arctic Surfclam (Mactromeris polynyma) Framework: 2016; June 28-29, 2016

Chairperson: John Neilson
Editors: Tanya Koropatnick and Tana Worcester

Summary

A regional peer review meeting was held on June 28-29, 2016, at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Nova Scotia to conduct a review of the Arctic Surfclam framework. The focus of the meeting was to review the science information basis to conduct a preliminary risk assessment of spatial management options for Arctic Surfclam in Atlantic Canada, including a review of available fishery, survey, biological, and ecological information. As part of this review, the relative risk and ongoing information requirements of the current management approach and alternative spatial management approaches were discussed. Participation in this meeting included Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), non-DFO scientists, First Nations and Aboriginal organizations, the fishing industry, Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and a non-governmental organization.

The Arctic Surfclam fishery in the Canadian Atlantic operates on both Banquereau and the Grand Bank, with primary focus on Banquereau in recent years. There was insufficient new information for the Grand Bank to allow a new analysis of that area, so the meeting focused on new information and analyses for Banquereau. Meeting participants agreed that available information and analyses supported the need for an updated assessment approach and corresponding science advice for Banquereau. In the absence of habitat suitability data, the use of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data to determine fished area was considered a reasonable proxy for habitat suitability of the Arctic Surfclam in areas that have been fished. The proposed surplus production model and spatially disaggregated analysis was considered by most participants to be informative and useful, and viewed as an improvement over the previous bank-wide stock assessment approach. However, the use of multiple assessment approaches was deemed advisable to help validate results. Participants recommended that survey data, in addition to other available information, should be used to inform an integrated stock assessment once sufficient data are available. The current frequency of stock assessments for Arctic Surfclam was considered too low. It was recommended that the assessment schedule and the format of annual updates be revisited.

This proceedings document is the record of the meeting discussions and conclusions.

Complete document (PDF, 309 KB)

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