Research Document 2018/039
The status of the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn, 4RS) cod stock (Gadus morhua) in 2016
By Brassard, C., Gauthier, J., Lussier, J-F., Way, M. and Collier, F
Abstract
Assessment of the cod (Gadus morhua) stock of the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO 3Pn, 4RS) is based on data from commercial fisheries, a tagging program, an abundance index calculated from the DFO research survey, abundance indices from the fixed gear sentinel fisheries program (longlines and gillnets), an abundance index from the mobile gear sentinel fisheries program and biological data. This document describes the data and methods used to assess several indicators including abundance, biomass, spawning biomass, natural mortality, exploitation rate and recruitment. It also includes a prediction of the stock trends until 2019. The cod stock of the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence remains in the critical zone and well below the limit reference point. The spatial distribution of this stock is now similar to that observed in the 1990s. The exploitation rate is currently low, while natural mortality is high. An annual harvest of 3,000 t for the next two seasons should allow the spawning stock biomass to increase.
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