Research Document - 2009/051

Review of the St. Mary’s Bay Longhorn Sculpin Fishery

By P.A. Comeau, M.J. Tremblay, S. Campana, G. Young, C. Frail, and S. Rowe

Abstract

A directed fishery for longhorn sculpin in St. Mary’s Bay (Nova Scotia) began in 1999 and was stopped after the 2006 fishery pending review. The fishery takes place over a 6 week period in April-May, and is limited to 4 license holders. Observer coverage is required and has varied by year from 25% to 100% coverage. While fishing for sculpin, vessels are permitted to use a 90mm diamond mesh codend. Average annual landings in the directed sculpin fishery are 98t, with a high of 152t in 2001 and a low of 52t in 2004. Commercial catch rates showed a decline after the first 2 years, but have remained relatively stable since 2001. Catch rates from the Department Fisheries Oceans (DFO) research vessel (RV) survey increased from the late 1970s to 1993, and have since declined. The industry run Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) survey shows catch rates consistent with the RV survey. The abundance of mature (>23cm) longhorn sculpin have declined in the directed fishery. The neighbouring RV survey stratum has shown a decline in mean length of sculpin. Exploitation rate estimates were calculated using several estimates of population abundance. Although a precise estimate of the exploitation rate was not available, the within-season exploitation rate of sculpin in St. Mary’s Bay is thought to be substantial. There is insufficient information to determine if the high exploitation rate is sustainable. At-sea observers provided estimates of by-catch within the directed sculpin fishery. The most abundant by-catch species caught in the directed sculpin fishery from 1999-2006 were lobster, winter flounder, crabs, and sea raven. Although lobster by-catch is high all animals are released and less than 1% were reported to be damaged or dead. The habitat where the directed sculpin fishery takes place is an area that is highly energetic and of low bottom complexity. As a result, the impact of the sculpin fishery on the sea floor is expected to be low.

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