Science Response 2019/014

Stock Status Update of Unit 3 Redfish

Context

A 10,000 tonnes (t) Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was implemented for Unit 3 Redfish (4X+ 4Wdehkl) in 1994 based on the 1991 TAC for the previous management unit (4VWX), prorated by historical (1981-1990) catches in the Statistical Unit Areas that comprise Unit 3 (Atkinson and Power 1991). This TAC was maintained from 1994-1998 based on conclusions from a series of stock status reports, which indicated that stock conditions were not expected to decline in coming years (Branton and Halliday 1994, Branton 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998).  In 1999, the TAC was reduced to 9,000 t due to lower catch rates in 4W and a shift in fishing effort from 4W to 4X (Branton 1999), and has remained at this level ever since.  Conservation measures for Unit 3 Redfish currently include protocols for protecting small fish below the minimum size of 22 cm fork length (FL) (i.e. closure areas; small fish amounts not to exceed 15% of catch/trip), 100% dockside monitoring and electronic Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), mandatory hail out and hail in, and a target level of 10-20% at-sea observer coverage.

Information on the status of Unit 3 Redfish (i.e. distribution, abundance, biomass) from 1999-2002 was provided through a series of Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Documents, which included a synopsis of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Summer Research Vessel (RV) Survey trends back to 1970 for selected groundfish stocks (e.g. Branton and Black 2002).  Since 2009, the status of Unit 3 Redfish has been updated based on Maritimes Region research vessel survey trends in biomass and abundance, in a series of CSAS Science Responses (e.g. DFO 2017a).  Following the development of biological reference points consistent with the precautionary approach (DFO 2012), the DFO Summer RV Survey Trends Science Responses from 2014 to 2017 have included plots of the mature biomass index for redfish > 22 cm FL relative to the Upper Stock Reference (USR; 80% of Biomass at Maximum Sustainable Yield [B_msy] proxy) and the Limit Reference Point (LRP; 40% of B_msy proxy) (DFO 2017a).  In 2015, a zonal peer review of the assessment framework for Units 1-3 Redfish (DFO 2017b) included a detailed review of Unit 3 Redfish stock status; however, this information has not yet been published, and there has been no new information available on the fishery for several years.

Resource management asked Science to review biological and fishery information on Unit 3 Redfish, to evaluate the current status of the stock relative to adopted reference points (DFO 2012), and report on bycatch of non-target species in the Unit 3 Redfish Fishery.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of December 6, 2018, on the Stock Status Update of Unit 3 Redfish.

Science Response 2019/014 (PDF, 637 KB)

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