Science Response 2012/009

Stock Assessment Update of Northern (2J3KL) Cod

Context

At a framework meeting held in November 2010 a conservation limit reference point (LRP) was established for Northern cod (DFO, 2010). This reference point defines the boundary between the critical and cautious zones within the Precautionary Approach framework and defines the stock level below which serious harm is occurring. The most recent assessment (March 2011) concluded that the stock was 90% below the LRP and at current levels of productivity would not reach the LRP within the next 5 years (DFO, 2011). Given the poor prognosis for stock recovery and lack of major change in stock status during the recent period, a stock assessment update was conducted for 2012, rather than a full assessment. This update was prepared to provide the Minister with advice on the latest status of the stock which has been subjected to ongoing stewardship and recreational fisheries in the inshore since 2006. There are no explicit timelines or targets for rebuilding this stock although a rebuilding plan is currently under development.

This Science Special Response report from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, summarizes the findings from a Regional Science Special Response Process (SSRP) conducted on 12 March 2012. The status of the Northern cod stock was updated based on key information obtained during 2011. The meeting reviewed information from (1) the DFO autumn research vessel (RV) survey (indices of abundance, biomass, spawning stock biomass (SSB), and trends in mortality rates), (2) the inshore sentinel catch rate index, and (3) fishery exploitation rates based on tagging.

Complete document (PDF, 162 KB)

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