Science Advisory Report 2005/031

Stock Assessment Report on Scallops of the Inshore Waters of Quebec in 2004

Summary

• In 2004, Quebec scallop landings totalled 127.4 t of meat, down 21% from 2003. Fishing effort also decreased by 34%. The North Shore sector accounted for 82% of the landings, the Magdalen Islands for 14% and the Gaspé for 4%.

Magdalen Islands

• Data obtained from aquaculture sites have for the first time been included in the assessment of Magdalen Islands scallop stock.
• Although commercial scallop landings had been declining since 1995, the scallops harvested from seeding sites began to reverse this trend in 2000. The fishing effort outside aquaculture sites has been declining since 1998.
• Owing to the higher scallop densities of seeding sites, egg production in 2004 is estimated to be higher there than outside aquaculture sites. Total egg production in 2004 was higher than before aquacultural activities began. In addition, the density of scallops smaller than 70 mm and the spat collection rate show that recruitment has been average, but steady in the last five years.
• The density of naturally occurring prerecruits is significantly higher in aquaculture sites than outside the sites. Rotational fishing appears to reduce the mortality rate of prerecruits. Consequently, the rotational fishing strategy is recommended for all fishing grounds.
• The status of the resource could be improved through a strategy of maintaining fishing effort at a similar level to that of 2004 in traditional fishing areas.

Gaspé

• In 2004, Gaspé landings and fishing effort plummeted to an all-time low of 5.5 t of meat. The decline in fishing effort characterized all of the harvested areas.
• For a number of years now, low commercial sea scallop catches in Chaleur Bay (Area 19A) have been cause for concern. The current fishing effort should not be increased until the status of the resource has improved.
• On Anticosti Island (Area 18B), the 2003 exploratory fishery revealed that the resource is today much weaker than when this area was first harvested.
• As for the other areas in the Gaspé, the few data available do not provide any indication of changes from previous years.

Île Rouge (Areas 16A1 and 17A1)

• For the second year in a row, the quota for Area 16A1 was not met. Furthermore, no fishing activity has been conducted in Area 17A1 since 2001. Although fishing effort was greater in 2004 than in 2003, it remained below average. Iceland scallop is abundant in this small scallop bed. It is recommended that the total allowable catch (TAC) be maintained for now.

North Shore

• Area 16E: Harvesting yields and landings have been stable since 1998, indicating that the stock can sustain the present harvesting level. In 2004, the research survey index showed that the abundance of commercial-size scallop is similar to the average estimated for 1998– 2003. The abundance of scallop smaller than 70 mm was also above average in 2003 and 2004. It is therefore recommended that the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) be maintained at the 2004 level.
• Area 16F: In 2004, landings increased by 23% following the addition of quotas for two previously unexploited subareas (16F-1 and 16F-2), for a total of 32.4 t of meat. Since 2000, the fishing yields observed for the main scallop bed were higher than those recorded in the late 1990s and indicate that the stock can sustain the current harvesting level. Fishing yields in Subarea 16F-1 are higher than those recorded for the main bed. In addition, scallop size structures in 16F-1 are similar to those found in the main bed. Although yields are high in Subarea 16F-2, the average size of the scallops is smaller than in the two above-mentioned beds. In 2005, it is recommended that Subarea 16F-1 and Area 16F and their respective TACs be consolidated. It is also recommended that Subarea 16F-2 be maintained and that its TAC remain unchanged from the 2004 level.
• Area 18A: Since 2001, landings have dropped substantially as a result of the decrease in fishing effort. It is recommended that the TAC be maintained at the 2004 level for the time being.
• Areas 15, 16A2, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16G, 16H, 18D: Few fishers are active in areas 15, 16A2, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16G, 16H and 18D, where recent fishing effort has not been very high. Based on the commercial indices for these areas, there are no major changes to report for these areas from previous years. The data available are incomplete, thus precluding an assessment of the state of the resource.

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