Science Advisory Report 2019/007

Stock Assessment of Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in NAFO Subdivision 3Ps

Summary

• This stock has been under moratorium since 1993. Bycatch of Haddock averaged 332 t from 2014‑17, with the largest proportion taken in the Atlantic Cod fishery.
• The ecosystem in Subdivision 3Ps remains under reduced productivity conditions. Spring bloom magnitude and zooplankton biomass have shown very low levels since 2014, with late spring blooms from 2013-17. These conditions could negatively impact transfer of energy to higher trophic levels.
• Abundance, Biomass, and SSB from the RV survey have been at or below the Campelen series (1996-2018) average for the last four years.
• This stock is characterized by sporadic large recruitment events. The last significant recruitment index (<20.5 cm) was observed in 2007. No recruits were caught during research vessel (RV) surveys in 2017 or 2018.
• A Limit Reference Point (LRP) was accepted for this stock with B_LIM defined at the lowest SSB in the Campelen series where a large recruitment event was observed (B_LIM = SSB 1998). The stock is currently at 34% of B_LIM. The LRP will be re-evaluated when the next large recruitment event is observed.
• This stock is currently in the Critical Zone. Consistent with the DFO decision-making framework incorporating the Precautionary Approach, removals from all sources must be kept at the lowest possible level until the stock clears the Critical Zone.

This Science Advisory Report is from the December 13, 2018 3Ps Haddock Regional Peer Review meeting. 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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