Science Advisory Report 2013/035

Recovery potential assessment for Smooth Skate (Malacoraja senta) Funk Island Deep designatable unit

Summary

• In the Funk Island Deep DU Smooth Skate (Malacoraja senta) catch rates and abundance declined during the 1980s and 1990s, and have remained low.
• Their greatest abundance is between 200 and 600 m in the Funk Island Deep DU. They typically occur in a narrow temperature range of 1-4°C.
• A B_MSY proxy (biomass giving maximum sustainable yield) was derived from the DFO fall multispecies research vessel (RV) survey series (1981-2012). Empirically-derived reference points were based on the geometric mean of 1981-1988: a period of higher productivity. The default Precautionary Approach (PA) reference points calculated were 40 % B_MSY (Limit Reference Point, LRP) and 80 % B_MSY (Upper Stock Reference, USR). Stock size averaged 18 % of the LRP over 2008-12.
• The relevant spatial resolution required to identify the habitat of Smooth Skate is unknown. However, there is no evidence of a reduction in suitable habitat, or that it will limit recovery of the Smooth Skate Funk Island Deep DU.
• There is no directed fishery for Smooth Skate in this DU area. Bycatch of this species is very low (<0.1 %), and therefore mitigation is not feasible beyond consideration of closed areas where the abundance is highest. Close monitoring of the bycatch, through adequate Canadian Fisheries Observer coverage, would enable continued evaluation of the potential impacts of fisheries on recovery of Smooth Skate.
• There are inadequate data to quantify the maximum human-induced mortality that the DU can sustain and not jeopardize survival or recovery. The population has remained stable at a low level at current bycatch.

This Science Advisory Report is from the 1-2 May 2013 Recovery Potential Assessment for Smooth Skate (Malacoraja senta), Funk Island Deep population designatable unit. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

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