Science Advisory Report 2019/038

Stock Assessment of Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Atlantic Halibut in 2018

Summary

• Atlantic halibut landings have been increasing since the early 2000s and have reached the highest values since 1960. For the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 management years, preliminary landings are respectively 1,269 t and 1,089 t. There is no reason to believe that the TAC of 2018-2019 (1,297 t) will not be met.
• The catch per unit effort of the Atlantic halibut longline fishery increased from an average of 100 kg per 1,000 hooks in the years 2000 to 500 kg per 1,000 hooks in 2018.
• The abundance of Atlantic halibut prerecruits (65 to 85 cm) estimated by the scientific surveys with bottom trawls in 2017 and 2018 is among the highest values of the historical series.
• The abundance of Atlantic halibut of commercial sizes (greater than 85 cm) estimated by the scientific surveys with bottom trawls in 2017 and 2018 is among the highest values of the historical series.
• Potential winter reproductive areas for Atlantic halibut have been located a depths greater than 300 m in the Gulf’s channels.
• Two years of longline survey and tagging of Atlantic halibut were successfully completed. Results from this collaboration between DFO and industry should contribute to the next Atlantic halibut stock assessment planned for 2021.
• The short and medium term outlook for the Atlantic halibut stock of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence is positive. The exploited component of the stock is at its highest historical level and recruitment to the fishery should remain high in the next years. However, the exploitation rate of this stock still remains unknown.

This Science Advisory Report is from the February 18–19, 2019, meeting on the Assessment of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Atlantic Halibut. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

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