Science Advisory Report  2013/021

Assessment of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) Capelin Stock in 2012

Summary

• Since 2008, the average capelin landings in NAFO Divisions 4RST are 11,429 t per year. From 12,314 t in 2011, they decreased to 9,472 t in 2012. Most of these landings are from a seine fishery that is conducted on the West coast of Newfoundland (Division 4R).
• The decrease in landings recorded in 2012 was particularly marked in unit areas 4Sw (Quebec Lower North Shore) and 4Tn (Miscou Bank). In 4Sw, this decrease could be explained by a spawning that occurred in deeper waters and outside the trap fishery area. In 4Tn, the spawning would have occurred before the regular activities of the seine fishery.
• An index measuring the performance of the seiner’s fishery in Division 4R is on the rise since 2005 so that the recent values of this index are the highest of the series.
• Capelin is a regular by-catch of the shrimp fishery. Based on observer data (5% coverage), 149 t of capelin would have been caught and discarded in 2012, for most in the Seven Islands shrimp fishery area. Since 2000, these by-catches have varied from 77 t to 322 t. These catches are not recorded in the official statistics of the Department.
• On the west coast of Newfoundland, the length of capelin caught by seine declined in the early 1990s until 2001. It increased thereafter and the lengths measured since 2005 have been near the historical averages. The length of capelin from the east coast of Newfoundland has declined more significantly, and since the mid-1990s, has been similar to that of the Gulf.
• Since 1990, the presence of capelin in the bottom trawl multidisciplinary surveys has become more widespread in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Division 4T). This increase could be explained by an increased presence of capelin near the bottom and/or by a change in abundance and/or dispersion.
• An index measuring the dispersion (and not the abundance) of capelin during the multidisciplinary bottom trawl surveys in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (North and South) presents a clear trend on the rise since 1990. Values measured since 2010 are the highest in the series.
• Due to the capelin’s prominent role as a forage species in the marine ecosystem, any increase in the 4RST TAC should be made cautiously, less than 10% as a total over the next two years. The fishing effort should be more dispersed along the coast and less concentrated locally.

This Science Advisory Report presents the results of the meeting held on February 23, 2013 for the "Assessment of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) Capelin Stock in 2012". Additional publications from this meeting will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

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