Science Response 2011/014
Scallop Fishery Area/Time Closure to Protect Cod Spawning Aggregations in 5Z (Georges Bank) in 2011
Context
Canada is required to account for all fishing mortality of Georges Bank cod (Gadus morhua) and aims to reduce cod bycatch in the offshore scallop fishery. In order to reduce bycatch and to minimize disturbance to spawning aggregations of cod by the offshore scallop fishery on Georges Bank, DFO has implemented area/time closures from early February to the end of March since 2005. To inform resource managers in determining appropriate area closures for the offshore scallop fishery on Georges Bank during the cod spawning seasons, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) asked the following question. “What does a review of 5Z cod distribution, particularly at spawning time, reveal about the spatial and temporal trends of the species and its overlap with the offshore scallop fishery? Highlight areas of high 5Z cod distribution using the cells which have already been defined and used in previous years.” This document provides the requested information on the spatial distribution of cod abundance and its overlap with scallop catches on Georges Bank. The information provided in this document is an update of information provided annually for 2006 to 2009 in the Expert Opinions series and for 2010 onward in the Science Response series published by CSAS.
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