Research Document - 2015/045

Whelk stock assessment in the Quebec’s inshore waters – methodology and results

By Sylvie Brulotte

Abstract

The Québec inshore waters whelks stock status is determined primarily based on commercial fishery indicators. The assessment of this resource is done every three years This document presents the methodologies and data that were presented during the peer review that took place in March 10, 2015.

In 2014, whelk landings totalled 951 t in Québec. A total of 87% of these landings were from the North Shore, 12% from the Gaspé Peninsula-Lower St. Lawrence and 2% from the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Landings decreased in most fishing areas compared to 2011 and TACs, when present, have not been reached. In 2013 and 2014, catches per unit effort (CPUE) were above their reference average (2001 to 2013) in areas 1, 4 and 13, close to their average in areas 2, 5, 6 and 8 and under their average in areas 3, 7, 12 and 15. In the last four areas, CPUEs measured in 2014 were among the lowest values observed since 2001. Mean sizes have been roughly stable in all areas. In 2014, the proportion of whelk measuring less than the legal limit (< 70 mm) in landings was less than 4% everywhere except in areas 1 and 8.

The research survey conducted every two years in the Forestville, Pointe-aux-Outardes and Baie-Comeau sectors shows that in 2013, the mean densities of whelks ≥ 20 mm and those of commercial size (≥ 70 mm) were higher than in previous years in Forestville but similar between the years in both other sectors. The 2013 size structure in Forestville shows a high proportion of whelks under the legal size.

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