Science Advisory Report 2009/028
Assessment of Quebec Coastal Waters Whelk Stocks in 2008
Summary
- In 2008, whelk landings totalled 1,139 t in Quebec. More than half the landings (53%) were from the North Shore, 31% from the Îles-de-la-Madeleine and 16% from the Gaspé Peninsula Lower St. Lawrence. Landings dropped by 50% on the North Shore, increased by 40% in the Gaspé Peninsula and dropped by 11% in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine compared to the 2001-2007 average. These variations can be explained in large part by changes in the fishing effort due to socioeconomic factors.
- In areas where the fishing effort has remained the same since 2006 (areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 15), catches per unit effort (CPUE) were more stable or slightly higher. It appears that the fishing pressure in these areas is actually consistent with the available biomass. In recent years, the effort deployed in all the areas has only represented between 34 and 45% of the licences issued.
- In 2008, the mean size of landed whelk was generally higher in most areas. The proportion of whelk in the landings measuring less than the legal limit was lower everywhere, except in areas 1, 2 and 8, which accounted for 15-43% of whelk smaller than 70 mm.
- It is recommended to directly control the fishing effort in all areas in order to reduce the potential effort. It is also recommended that the preventive TAC in area 1 be reduced to 55% of the 2008 value, which represents a drop equal to the CPUE difference between 2001 and 2004. It is suggested that minimal legal size of 70 mm be maintained in all areas. In addition, it is recommended that selective fishing gear be used along with methods to help handle sub-legal size whelk on board vessels in order to reduce, even eliminate, mortality caused by the fishery.
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