Research Document - 2013/023
Capelin (Mallotus villosus) in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Divisions 4RST) in 2012
By F. Grégoire, L. Girard, J.-L. Beaulieu, J.-F. Lussier, and B. Bruneau
Abstract
In 2012, data on capelin landings in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Divisions 4RST) totalled 9,472 t. Most of these landings were made in Division 4R with a total of 8,847 t. Landings were also made in Divisions 4S and 4T with respective tonnages of 478 t and 147 t. The performance index of the purse seine fishery in 4R has increased from 2005 to 2012. Since 2008, this index is higher that the upper limit of the historical average. Capelin is a regular by-catch in the shrimp fishery. In 2012, these by-catches amounted to 149 t. Since 2000, these by-catches varied from 77 t to 322 t. They were more important in the Sept-Îles and Esquiman shrimp fishery areas. Mean lengths of females and males caught in 4R increased between 1999 and 2003 and they have been near the historic average since. The lengths in 4R are similar or slightly higher than in unit area 4Sw. However, these lengths are greater than those of capelin caught in 4Tn. The dispersion index measured for the whole Gulf of St. Lawrence has been on the rise between 1990 and 2003. Relatively stable values were subsequently observed with an increase from 2009 and values that reached historical highs in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
According to all these results and given the key role of capelin as a forage species in the marine ecosystem of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, any increase in the 4RST TAC should be made cautiously, less than 10% as a total over the next two years. Fishing effort should also be spread along the coast and not-concentrated locally.
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