Science Advisory Report  2011/076

Assessment of Newfoundland East and South Coast Herring Stocks to Spring of 2011

Summary

White Bay‑Notre Dame Bay

• Reported landings increased from 425 t in 2009 to 524 t in 2010; 20% of the TAC was taken in 2010. An estimated 115 t were caught in the bait fishery in 2010.  Purse seine fishers reported no dead discards (bait and purse seine discard estimates based on annual phone surveys).
• A standardized performance index indicates that stock status improved from 2002 to 2008 but deteriorated from 2009 to 2011; stock abundance remains at a low level compared to historical estimates in the 1970’s.
• The percentage of autumn spawners has increased significantly over the past decade; recruitment of the 2006 year class of autumn spawners is well above average.
• Short term prospects are uncertain; the recruiting 2006 year class is average and most mature year classes are above average compared to year classes produced since 1982.  However, all year classes since 1982 are weak compared to historical levels.
• The status of this stock has deteriorated since the 2009 assessment.

Bonavista Bay‑Trinity Bay

• Reported landings decreased from 3183 t in 2009 to 2131 t in 2010; 43% of the TAC was taken in 2010. An estimated 437 t were caught in the bait fishery in 2010. No dead discards were reported by purse seine fishers.
• A standardized performance index indicates that stock status improved from 2002 to 2007, deteriorated from 2008 to 2010, and improved slightly in 2011; stock abundance remains at a low level compared to historical estimates in the 1970’s.
• The percentage of autumn spawners has increased significantly over the past decade; all 7 mature autumn spawner year classes are well above average.
• Short term prospects are uncertain; the recruiting 2006 year class and all mature year classes are at or above average, compared to year classes produced since 1982.  However, all year classes since 1982 are weak compared to historical levels.
• The status of this stock has deteriorated since the 2009 assessment.

St. Mary’s Bay‑Placentia Bay

• Reported landings decreased from 1407 t in 2009 to 1006 t in 2010; 45% of the TAC was taken in 2010.  An estimated 197 t were caught in the bait fishery in 2010. Discards from the purse seine fishery were estimated to be 0.2 t.
• A standardized performance index indicates that stock status deteriorated from 2001 to 2004, remained stable from 2005 to 2010, and increased slightly in 2011; stock abundance remains at a low level compared to historical estimates in the 1970’s.
• The percentage of autumn spawners has increased over the past decade, with most mature autumn spawner year classes at or above the average in 2010.
• Short term prospects are uncertain; the recruiting 2006 year class is above average, and 3 of 7 mature year classes are also above average, but all are weak compared to historical levels.
• The status of this stock has improved since the last assessment in 2009.

Fortune Bay

• Reported landings increased from 2361 t in 2009 to 2624 t in 2010; 91% of the TAC was taken in 2010. An estimated 323 t were caught in the bait fishery in 2010.
• A standardized performance index indicates that stock status deteriorated from 2001 to 2004, increased slightly in 2005, declined in 2006 and remained stable to 2010, then decreased in 2011; stock abundance is lower than peak estimates in the late 1990’s.
• Spring spawners remain dominant in Fortune Bay, but 5 of 7 spring year classes were below average in 2010.
• Short term prospects are negative; the 2006 year class is below average and most mature year classes are below average.
• The status of this stock has deteriorated since the last assessment in 2009. 

This Science Advisory Report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Regional Advisory Process meeting of November 30 and December 1, 2011 on the assessment of east and south coast Newfoundland herring.  Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

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