Research Document - 2012/058
Assessment of whelks stocks of Québec’s coastal waters
By S. Brulotte
Abstract
The status of whelk stocks in Québec’s inshore waters is primarily determined based on commercial fishery indicators. This paper presents the methodologies and data presented at the February 2012 peer review.
In 2011, whelk landings totalled 1,360 t in Québec. A total of 68% of these landings were from the North Shore, 12% from the Gaspé–Lower St. Lawrence and 20% from the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Since 2006, catches per unit effort (CPUE) have increased in Areas 5, 6 and 13, been relatively stable in Areas 1, 3, 4, 12 and 15, dropped in Areas 7 and 11, and varied in Areas 2 and 8. However, CPUE in Areas 1, 3, 11 and 15 were below baseline levels in 2011. Average sizes have been fairly stable in all areas since 2006. The proportion of sub-legal size whelk (< 70 mm) in 2011 landings was below 6% in all areas, except Areas 2 and 8.
The research survey conducted every two years in the Forestville, Pointe-aux-Outardes and Baie-Comeau areas indicated that in 2011 average densities for all whelks and the percentage of juveniles (25 mm–50 mm) were higher than in previous years in Forestville and Pointe-aux-Outardes.
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