Proceedings 2019/030

Proceedings of the Regional Peer Review of the Northwest Atlantic Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) Framework: Review of Data Inputs; September 19-20, 2017

Chairperson: Kent Smedbol

Editor: Lottie Bennett

Summary

A regional peer review meeting was held on September 19-20, 2017 at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to conduct a review of the data inputs of the Atlantic Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) framework.  As outlined in the Terms of Reference, the focus of the meeting was to describe the fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data sources from the United States of America (US) and Canada used to assess the population, evaluate factors affecting dogfish catchability, and to review proposed methods to standardize data from the USA for input into an assessment model.  The assessment model will be reviewed at a separate meeting.  Participation in this meeting included Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), non-DFO scientists, Aboriginal organizations, and the fishing industry.

The Northwest Atlantic Spiny Dogfish is a transboundary resource with significant catches in Canada and the US. Although a joint Canada-US Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC) assessment was held in early 2010, consensus on an assessment model was not reached. Both the US and Canada have continued to assess the stock independently since 2010. The last DFO framework review and assessment of Northwest Atlantic Spiny Dogfish occurred in January and May 2014 using data up to 2010. The accepted model was a forward-projecting stage-based, spatially explicit population dynamics model with two time steps. Efforts to incorporate more recent data into the framework model have not been successful.  This is likely due to substantial changes in our understanding of dogfish catchability since the deployment of a new survey gear and vessel in the US in 2009.  As well, recent research on day/night patterns of dogfish catchability suggested these might be a concern.

This proceedings document includes a summary of the presentation and is the record of the meeting discussions and conclusions.  A Research Document resulting from this meeting will be published on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat's (CSAS) Website as soon as it is available.