Science Advisory Report 2010/008
Assessment of shrimp stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2009
Summary
- Landings totalled nearly 36,000 t in 2009 and were similar to those of 2008. Most of the stock abundance indicators for 2009 were close to or higher than the mean for the years 1990-2008 but some showed a decrease relative to 2007.
- The commercial fishery catch rate was similar to that of 2008 in Sept-Iles and Anticosti, decreased in Estuary and increased in Esquiman. The survey biomass index was similar to that of 2008 in all areas.
- The fishing effort and the exploitation rate index increased in Estuary and Sept-Iles but decreased in Anticosti and Esquiman. The exploitation rate index largely exceeded the mean in Estuary and reached the third highest value of the series. The index was close to the mean in the other areas.
- The summer male and female abundance indices estimated from the fishery and survey data, constitute the main indicators for the status of the stocks. In 2009, the combined male and female index was higher than the mean in all areas except in Estuary where it decreased by about 40% to reach a value below the mean. The index has a predictive value of the amount of females that will be available to the fishery and to the reproduction the following year.
- The comparison of the 2009 female index to the provisional reference points indicates that the abundance of females has stayed in the healthy zone for all areas except for Estuary where the index is in the precautionary zone. The female sizes were similar to the mean in Estuary and Sept-Iles but were still below the mean in Anticosti and Esquiman.
- The Sept-Iles, Anticosti and Esquiman stock status have been above the mean since 2003 and the female abundance is still in the healthy zone. In 2010, catches similar to those of 2009 should generate exploitation rates close to the mean. Consequently, the status quo is recommended for the 2010 TACs in these fishing areas.
- The Estuary stock status decreased below the mean in 2009, the exploitation rate increased well above the mean and the female abundance came down in the precautionary zone. Consequently, a 10 to 15% decrease of the TAC is recommended for this fishing area in 2010.
- The indicators for the Sept-Iles and Esquiman stocks seem however to indicate a decrease even if they are still in the healthy zone. It is thus important that the exploitation rates do not increase in order to help maintain these stocks in the healthy zone.
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