Science Response 2011/003
Maritimes Research Vessel Survey Trends
Context
DFO has conducted summer research vessel (RV) surveys in the Maritimes Region, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) subunits 4VWX and a small portion of 5Y, using a standardized protocol since 1970. Results of these surveys provide information on trends in abundance for most groundfish species on the Scotian Shelf. While these data reflect trends in biomass and abundance and are a critical part of science-based stock assessments, a full assessment, including other sources of data, would be required to evaluate the impacts of management measures on population status. Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) requested a review of the DFO RV survey information on the following list of fish stocks: 4Vn cod, 4VsW cod, 4X5Y cod, 4VW haddock, 4X5Y haddock, 4VW white hake, 4X5Y white hake, 4VWX5 silver hake, 4VWX5Y pollock, Unit 3 redfish, 4VW flatfish, and 4X5Y flatfish.
Full assessments will not be conducted for these stocks in 2010. The survey information will be used by DFO Resource Management as background for discussions with various industry stakeholders on recommendations for management measures, and to determine which stocks should be reviewed in more detail in 2011.
This Science Response report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Regional Science Special Response Process (SSRP) of November 3, 2010 on Maritimes Research Vessel Survey Trends.
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