Research Document - 2016/019

Redfish Catch Results from the Summer 2009, 2011 and 2014 Surveys in Unit 2

By Kulka, D.W., and Atkinson, D.B.

Abstract

Within redfish management Unit 2 (portions of North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subdiv. 3Pn, 3Ps, 4Vn, and 4Vs), the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) has funded redfish surveys since 1997. These surveys are the only available index of Unit 2 stock condition given the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) last surveyed Unit 2 redfish in 2002. GEAC funded and performed the surveys with scientific guidance from DFO in the design and execution of stratified random surveys and associated sampling. The data collected during these surveys have been subsequently analyzed on behalf of GEAC with the additional intent of providing this information to DFO, for their databases and future assessment work. The 9th, 10th and 11th such GEAC redfish surveys in Unit 2 were completed in 2009, 2011 and 2014. Survey catch statistics, length distribution, and stratified analysis estimates of redfish abundance and biomass, and interpretation of results are presented for those years and compared to previous surveys.

In most years, largest catches were observed south in the Laurentian Channel and along the shelf edge. Only in 1998 were large catches observed in the north adjacent to Unit 1. Normally, nearly all biomass was concentrated along the shelf edge. Interannual variations in distribution suggest that the fish move around within Unit 2 but are generally more concentrated in the south. Overall, in Unit 2, the total biomass index has fluctuated without trend since the early 2000s. For 2011, biomass was 119 kt up from 110 kt in 2009 but remains below the 2001 estimate of 141 kt. The abundance index also fluctuated without trend since the early 2000s. Total abundance of 372 M in 2011 is the highest since 2001 but remains well below 1997‑98 values. In 2005, a nine cm peak of fish was observed indicating the presence of much younger fish than previously observed in significant numbers, likely fish that were two year olds. That peak persisted and increased in size through 2011. This suggested the presence of a significant 2002 year class. Change in survey gear and platform in 2014 makes the numbers non-comparable to previous years. The new Campelen gear likely has a substantially different q (catchability) compared to the Engel particularly in terms of abundance at length.

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