Research Document - 2012/121
The Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus L.) stocks of the west coast of Newfoundland (NAFO Division 4R) in 2011
By F. Grégoire, J.-L. Beaulieu, and I.H. McQuinn
Abstract
In 2011, herring catches on the west coast of Newfoundland (NAFO Division 4R) totalled 20,501 t for a TAC of 20,000 t. Catches from the spring bait fishery were not included in this total. Catches by large (>65') and small (<65') seiners totalled 10,259 t and 5,463 t, compared to annual averages (1975-2010) of 10,829 t and 3,555 t. For the spring spawners, the age at 50% maturity was lower during the 2000s while it was higher in 2010 and 2011 for the fall spawners. For these two stocks, an increase in the length at 50% maturity was observed since the beginning of the 1990s. The condition factor showed a significant decrease for these stocks in 2011. Although the possible causes of this change were not analyzed, such decreases have been observed in the past. According to the acoustic survey, the total biomass index for fall spawners would have passed from 121,888 t in 2010 to 110,428 t in 2011. The spring spawners index would have slightly increased to pass between 2010 and 2011 from 11,363 t to 14,624 t. In 2002, spring herring accounted for 32% of the combined biomass of the two spawning stocks compared to 8.1 and 11.7% in 2009 and 2011. During the last years, catches of about 20,000 t were supported in majority by the fall spawners and, in particular, by the dominant 2000 year-class. With the ageing and decline of this year-class and in the absence of a strong recruitment, it is unlikely that this catch level can be sustained during the next years. It is recommended not to increase the current level of the catches (20,000 t) in 2012 and 2013.
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