Research Document 2019/045

Results of an informal survey of Canadian Atlantic mackerel commercial, bait and recreational fishers (2018)

By Van Beveren, E., Duplisea, D., Castonguay, M., and Smith, A.

Abstract

Canadian catches of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) are not all recorded, especially in the bait and recreational fishery. In recent years, efforts have been made to evaluate the amplitude of catch underestimation, include this in the scientific advice and adapt management accordingly. Specifically, in 2016 the mackerel stock assessment explicitly acknowledged catch bias for the first time. Important to the evaluation of unreported catch was the information gained from an informal online survey, targeting all Canadian Atlantic mackerel fishers in order to obtain a rough estimate of the proportion of catch which is undeclared (bait, discards and recreational catches). Because of the value of this survey and its simplicity to conduct, we repeated the process to inform the 2019 mackerel assessment on missing catch. Two hundred eighty fishers provided specific catch information, spanning all sectors and provinces. Overall patterns and conclusions were similar to results from 2016 in terms of bait and gear type, discarding (~2%), and recreational fishing (semi-professionally done by some). Purchase slip reception varied greatly by province, ranging from 100% (Newfoundland) to 29% (New Brunswick). In comparison to 2016, purchase slip reception differed only in Quebec and New Brunswick, at least in part because relatively more commercial fishers filled in the survey. Of the 4069 t caught by all survey participants, about half was caught by commercial fishers from Newfoundland (full reporting) and for 543 t no purchase slips were obtained. Missing catch remains a significant issue, especially in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

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