Science Advisory Report 2010/063
Assessment of the Arctic Surfclam (Mactromeris polynyma) Stock on Grand Bank
Summary
- Arctic Surfclams are long lived and slow growing. If the resource were to be depleted it will take a long time before the stock recovers.
- There has been an Arctic Surfclam fishery on Grand Bank since 1989.
- Clam dredges have an immediate impact on the substrate and benthic organisms, and there continue to be uncertainties about the impact of dredges on overall benthic productivity.
- Hydraulic clam dredge fisheries occur on fairly mobile, well-sorted sand, which helps mitigate the overall impact on some elements of the benthic community.
- The proportion of clam species caught is variable and bycatch of non-clam species in the Arctic Surfclam fishery is low.
- The Framework recommended a constant F approach and an F target has not been selected for Grand Bank.
- Selection of a target F will depend on a range of factors, including the different growth and maturity rates, for Grand Bank in comparison to Banquereau, the patchiness and variable density of clam beds, impact of densities on effective F and catch per unit effort, benthic impact, and bycatch issues.
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