Science Advisory Report 2008/051

St. Mary's Bay Longhorn Sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus) Assessment

Summary

• Sculpin landings in 4X fluctuated between approximately 100 and 200t after the start of the directed fishery in 1999. The directed fishery is concentrated in the middle of St. Mary’s Bay.
• Commercial catch rates of longhorn sculpin within St. Mary’s Bay declined in the first few years of the directed fishery but appear to have stabilized. The catch rates from Stratum 490 of the DFO Research Vessel (RV) survey increased from the late 1970s to 1993 and then subsequently declined. The catch rates from the Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) survey are generally consistent with those observed in the RV survey.
• The abundance of larger (>23cm) longhorn sculpin in the directed fishery has declined, as has the mean length of sculpin from the RV survey in Stratum 490.
• Estimates of within-season exploitation rate on sculpin in St. Mary’s Bay are substantial (greater than 30%). There was insufficient information to determine if such an exploitation rate is sustainable.
• While local depletion is probably occurring within St. Mary’s Bay and adjacent areas, there is no evidence that sculpin in other areas of NAFO divs. 4VWX have been affected.
• The most abundant by-catch species caught in the St. Mary’s Bay sculpin fishery from 1999-2006 were lobster, winter flounder, crabs, and sea raven. Although lobster by-catch is high, all animals are released and less than 1% have been reported as damaged or dead.
• The habitat over which the directed sculpin fishery takes place is highly energetic and of low bottom complexity. As a result, the impact of the sculpin fishery on the sea floor is expected to be low.

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