Science Advisory Report 2018/037
Assessment of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) Capelin Stock in 2017
Summary
- 2017 represented the lowest recorded landings (1 973 t) since 2001 (741 t) and a sharp drop from landings in 2016. The average capelin landings in NAFO Divisions 4RST from 2001 onwards has been 8 040 tonnes. The TAC is currently set at 14 300 t.
- Most of the landings are from a purse seine fishery on the West coast of Newfoundland (4R). The tuck seine fishery developed in the same region since 2005.
- Since 2013, fishing effort has moved northwards along the West coast of Newfoundland towards the Strait of Belle Isle, except for 2017 where the presence of ice and bad weather limited fishing activities.
- The 4R seiner fishery performance index has dropped considerably since 2013 but remains above the mean of the time series (1986-2017).
- Analyses suggest that capelin recruitment is associated with environmental factors such as temperature and the availability of zooplankton as prey.
- Since 2011, the condition of capelin caught in the commercial fishery has diminished and 2016 and 2017 are among the lowest recorded values in the time series.
- Since 2015, the measured sizes of capelin caught in the commercial fishery have diminished in most regions of the Gulf.
- Due to the decreasing fishery performance index, the decreasing biological indices, very low landings in 2017, and capelin’s prominent role as a forage species in the ecosystem, a substantial decrease in the total allowable catch of capelin authorised for 2018 and 2019 is advised by virtue of precaution.
This Science Advisory Report is from the February 27, 2018 Assessment of Gulf of St. Lawrence capelin stock (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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