Science Advisory Report 2021/019

Recovery Potential Assessment for Common Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) in Canadian Waters

Summary

Biology, Abundance, Distribution and Life History Parameters

• Common Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) is a broadly-distributed, sexually dimorphic globiform teleost fish, ranging in Canadian waters from the Davis Strait to Georges Bank and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (including the Estuary).
• Common Lumpfish are often found both demersally and pelagically in both inshore and offshore waters. They are known for undertaking extensive inshore migrations in the spring to reproduce on rocky bottoms in coastal areas. They also undertake diurnal movements in the water column.
• Abundance and biomass indices for Subdiv. 3Ps (spring survey) and Div. 2J3KL (fall survey) have declined precipitously since the mid-2000s and remain low; these indices are considered to reflect stock status. No discernible trends are present in Div. 4RST, Div. 4VWX5YZ, or Div. 0AB.
• In Canadian waters, most aspects of the species’ life history are poorly understood.

Habitat and Residence Requirements

• Common Lumpfish mating/nesting sites would constitute residences which support reproduction, as they are modified by the males and occupied by both adults and eggs/larvae. These inshore sites are typically rocky, structurally complex, and associated with macroalgae.
• It is unknown what specific habitat features are required for successful completion of all life history stages, but Common Lumpfish, especially young individuals, are often associated with eelgrass and a variety of macroalgae in inshore waters.
• Detailed information on the spatial extent and availability of suitable Common Lumpfish habitat is not available, but it is not believed that habitat is limiting for this species.
• There is no evidence of any spatial configuration constraints, as distribution in Canada is continuous and movement is not believed to be limited by physical or oceanographic barriers.

Threats and Limiting Factors to Survival and Recovery of Lumpfish

• The only quantified anthropogenic threat to recovery of Common Lumpfish is fishing mortality from directed commercial fisheries and, to a lesser extent, bycatch (retained/landed and/or discarded) in commercial fisheries directing for other species.
• Other potential anthropogenic threats exist, such as climate change, oil and gas activities, invasive species, infectious agents, aquaculture, coastal development, and pollution.
• Anthropogenic activities that negatively impact benthic nearshore environments suitable for Common Lumpfish nesting and nursery sites could jeopardize survival and recovery of the species. It is not possible to quantify the extent or impact of these activities at present.
• Survival and recovery of Common Lumpfish may be limited by naturally occurring climate and weather events, as well as interspecific interactions such as predation, and infection by parasitic, viral, or bacterial agents. The impact of these factors cannot be estimated or quantified at present.
• The only quantified threat is fishing and a reduction in fishing mortality would reduce harm to this species and co-occurring species. Comprehensive fisheries-dependent and independent monitoring programs have been lacking for this species.

Recovery Targets

• Candidate distribution recovery target for this Designatable Unit (DU) is to increase the distribution to historic levels in NAFO Subdiv. 3Ps and Div. 3KL, and to maintain the current distribution throughout the other areas (e.g., Div. 4RST3Pn; Div. 4VWX5YZ; SA 0).
• The candidate biomass recovery target is 15,831 t, the Upper Stock Reference (USR) level as estimated from the combined survey indices in Subdiv. 3Ps and Div. 3KL. The short‑term/medium‑term recovery target is to be above the candidate Limit Reference Point ([LRP] 7,915 t). Current biomass is estimated to be 50% of the LRP.
• Due to the lack of a quantitative model, the population trajectories could not be estimated.
• Sufficient suitable habitat is thought to be available to meet the demands of the species both at present and when it reaches the proposed recovery target.
• Current levels of fishing mortality are not thought to jeopardize survival. However, a decrease in fishing mortality may be required to achieve recovery targets.

Allowable Harm

• The reduction of fishing mortality and mitigation of impacts to nesting and nursery habitat can be achieved through a variety of fisheries management and habitat protection measures.

This Science Advisory Report is from the March 12-13, 2019 Zonal Peer Review meeting for the Recovery Potential Assessment – Lumpfish, Atlantic Ocean. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

Science Advisory Report 2021/019 (PDF, 1,286 KB)

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