Science Advisory Report 2019/049
Assessment of Newfoundland east and south coast Herring in 2017 and 2018
Summary
Overview
- The spring research gillnet program was used to update the stock status in Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and Fortune Bay. A similar gillnet research program conducted through the Coastal Baseline Program was used to update stock status for Placentia Bay.
- Given the absence of a quantitative indicator to evaluate stock trajectory, the group was unable to provide advice on stock status for White Bay-Notre Dame Bay or Conception Bay-Southern Shore.
- In all areas except Fortune Bay, spawning stock composition changed in the early 2000s from spring spawner to fall spawner dominance. Although strong recruitment of several spring spawner year classes increased the percentage of spring spawners in 2016-2017, the proportion remains below those observed prior to the 2000s.
Labrador
- Preliminary data indicate that Labrador landings were 18 t in 2017 (4% of the 500 t TAC) and 412 t in 2018 (82% of the TAC), the highest landings since the fishery began in 2013. The stock affinity of these fish is currently unknown.
White Bay – Notre Dame Bay
- Preliminary data indicate that White Bay – Notre Dame Bay landings reached the highest levels since the early 1990s in 2017 at 2367 t (92% of the TAC) and 2179 t in 2018 (85% of the TAC).
Bonavista Bay – Trinity Bay
- Preliminary data indicate that Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay landings decreased from recent highs in 2015, with 729 t landed in 2017 (26% of TAC) with a further decrease in 2018 with 608 t (20% of TAC) landed.
- The stock status index derived from the research gillnet program decreased significantly in 2016 and again slightly in 2017. Future prospects for the stock are positive, with mean catch rates of age 4-6 Herring of both spawning components increasing from 2016 to 2017, and recent year class recruitment above average. Given the diverging trends in these indices, the stock status evaluation is uncertain.
Conception Bay – Southern Shore
- Preliminary data indicate that Conception Bay-Southern Shore landings increased to 610 t in 2017 (68% of the TAC), the highest level since the 1990s, but decreased to 114 t in 2018 (14% of the TAC). All commercial landings were from Conception Bay.
St. Mary’s Bay – Placentia Bay
- Preliminary data indicate that St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay landings increased to the highest levels since the 1990s with 1,295 t landed in 2017 (62% of the TAC) and 1,397 t (62% of the TAC) landed in 2018.
- Combined catch rates in the Placentia Bay gillnet research program in 2018 were above the reference period mean and higher than the catch rate derived from the 2016 Placentia Bay acoustic survey; however, the catch was dominated by a single year class and recruitment was at or below average, giving an overall stock status of uncertain.
Fortune Bay
- Preliminary data for Fortune Bay indicate that landings remained low in 2017 at 175 t (15% of the TAC), but increased for the first time in recent years to 830 t (70% of the TAC) in 2018.
- The stock status index derived from the spring research gillnet program had a declining trend through the 2000s, with a slight increase in 2017. Mean catch rates of age 4-6 Herring increased from 2016 to 2017; however, this was due to the recruitment of the strong 2012 year class. Given these indices, the stock status evaluation is negative.
This Science Advisory Report is from the March 18, 2019 Assessment of Divisions 2J+3KL and Subdivision 3Ps Herring. 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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