Science Advisory Report 2019/037

Assessment of the Quebec North Shore (Division 4S) herring stocks in 2018

Summary

• Despite a TAC of 4,000 t, herring landings on the North Shore of Quebec (4S) have decreased by 38% since 2016 to reach 2,501 t in 2018, their lowest level since 2011. Almost all landings came from the eastern end of unit area 4Sw.
• The decrease in landings is partly attributable to the new management measures put in place in 2017 and 2018, to poor weather conditions for fishing activities, and to an increased presence of herring at greater depths, which would have had the effect of reducing their availability to fishing gear.
• Since 2008, herring catches have been largely dominated by fall spawners.
• Unlike in 2016 and 2017 when catches of the fall spawning herring stock were dominated by fish older than 9 years, catches in 2018 were mainly composed of 5 to 9 years old fish. Catches of the spring spawning herring stock in 2017 and 2018 were mostly composed of 4- and 5-year old fish.
• Based on the age composition in the catches, no important recruitment has been observed since 2000 in fall spawners. A relatively large year-class appeared in spring spawners in 2013.
• An acoustic survey covering the entire 4S coastal zone was conducted for the second time in the fall of 2018. The biomass index was estimated at 2,473 t for spring spawners and 19,950 t for fall spawners. The total biomass index in 2018 was similar to that estimated in 2016.
• Unlike in 2016 when the highest biomasses were observed in the western part of 4S, the highest biomasses in 2018 were observed in 4Sw at the eastern end of the zone.
• Six acoustic surveys were conducted between 2009 and 2018 in the 4Sw unit area. After a significant decrease from 2010 to 2016, the biomass index for spring and fall spawners increased in 2018.
• Cohorts are mainly monitored in commercial fisheries catches. A limited spring fishery (May-June) would better track cohorts of the spring spawning herring stock.
• Given the understanding of the status and productivity of the stock, maintaining the TAC at status quo should allow to maintain or increase the stock.

This science advisory report is from the March 15, 2019, meeting on the Assessment of the Quebec North Shore (4S) herring stocks in 2018. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

Complete document (PDF, 1,365 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.