Proceedings 2018/001

Proceedings of the Regional Peer Review Meeting on Evaluating Benchmarks of Biological Status for Data-limited Populations (Conservation Units) of Pacific Salmon, Focusing on Chum Salmon in Southern BC; July 12-13, 2017

Chairperson: Bruce Patten
Editors : Erika Anderson and Bruce Patten

Summary

These Proceedings summarize the relevant discussions and key conclusions that resulted from a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Peer Review meeting of July 12-13, 2017 at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, B.C. A working paper evaluating types of Wild Salmon Policy benchmarks of biological status for data-limited Conservation Units of Pacific salmon, focusing on Chum Salmon in southern BC was presented for peer review.

In-person and web-based participation included Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science and Fisheries and Aquatic Management Sectors staff; and external participants: PST Chum Salmon Technical Committee members, academia, First Nations, non-governmental organizations, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, commercial and recreational fishing interests.

Percentile benchmarks align or are more precautionary than those obtained through traditional stock-recruitment model results, according to retrospective analysis and simulation modelling in southern BC Chum Salmon. The specific percentile benchmark recommended depends on the productivity and harvest rate combination. However, percentile benchmarks perform poorly in medium to high harvest rates with low to medium productivity combinations. The regional peer review included the following discussions: context, appropriateness of the upper benchmark 80% SMSY identified in a previous CSAS process, percentiles ratcheting down when Conservation Units (CUs) are depleted, variability in percentile-based benchmarks, the use of metrics on total recruitments instead of spawner abundances for status assessments, appropriateness of the stock-recruitment models to explain variability in CUs of Chum Salmon, the spatial scale of CUs of Chum Salmon, and the use of data contrast to inform performance and applicability of percentile-based benchmarks. In addition, percentile benchmark recommendations were discussed to maximize clarity, while still providing the appropriate level of detail, including probabilities. Future work is recommended to evaluate their applicability to other salmon species and the identification of management reference points.

The Research Document and Proceedings will be made publicly available on the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website.

Complete document (PDF, 289 KB)

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