Science Advisory Report  2013/039

Assessment of Greenland halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2012

Summary

• Greenland halibut landings reached 3,716 t in 2011 and 3,554 t (preliminary as of December 31) in 2012 out of an allocation of 3,751 t. Fleets can land another 335 t in individual quotas prior to May 15, 2013.
• Fishing sites have changed since 2006. The proportion of catches in the western Gulf has declined from 68% to 37% from 2007 to 2012 while it has increased from 28% to 49% in Esquiman. During this period, fishing activities have dropped in the Estuary and fisheries have developed around Anticosti (southwest and north). Since 2011, there is no more fishing in southwest Anticosti and there has been a large increase in Esquiman.
• Commercial catch rates in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2011 and 2012 were comparable to the series average but lower than those seen between 2007 and 2010. A decline was observed in the western Gulf with values below the series mean in 2011 and 2012. A decline was also observed in Esquiman in 2012 although the catch rate remained high.
• The proportion of females caught in the fishery decreased and is now below the mean since 2010. It is 79% in 2011 and 73% in 2012. This decrease results from the marked decline in 4R from 72% (2005-2010 mean) to 64% in 2011 and 55% in 2012.
• The proportion of individuals in the fishery smaller than 44 cm has remained stable around 7% from 2010 to 2012. At this size, 63% of females and 2% of males were immature. Mean size increased from 2002 to 2011 from 45.1 cm to 49.5 and has remained stable in 2012.
• The size at which 50% of fish are mature has remained stable and generally below the mean since 2001 around 36 cm for males and 46 cm for females.
• The biomass index from the DFO survey has remained stable and above the series mean but has declined slightly since 2007. The biomass index from the Sentinel survey has been constantly declining since 2007 and is below the series average in 2011 and 2012.
• The strong 2004 year-class (with the weak 2003 and 2005 year-classes) dominated the fishery in 2011 and 2012 and contributes to increasing the mean size of the catch.
• Year-classes that should contribute to the fishery in 2013 and 2014 are of average abundance and should maintain current catch level. The strong 2010 year-class will start getting recruited to the fishery in 2015 and should dominate the fishery in 2016.
• Given the values of the main indicators of resource status, the status quo is recommended for the catch levels allowed in 2013 and 2014.

This Science Advisory Report is from the meeting of February 26, 2013 on the Assessment of Greenland halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST). 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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