Science Response 2019/016

Stock Status Update of Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in NAFO Divisions 4X5Y

Context

Advice on the status of Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 4X5Y (herein referred to as 4X5Y Haddock) is requested annually by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Resource Management to help determine a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) that is consistent with the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP). The most recent framework and assessment occurred in 2016 (Stone and Hansen 2015, Wang et al. 2017, DFO 2017). A Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) model with natural mortality (M) at ages 10 and older for three 5-year time blocks (2000-2004, 2005-2009, and 2010-2014) fixed at 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9, respectively, was recommended as the model for the 4X5Y Haddock stock assessment. Despite the uncertainties in estimating fishing morality at Maximum Sustainable Yield (F_MSY), it was agreed at this Framework meeting that a fishing mortality limit reference (F_lim) of 0.25 would be a removal fishing mortality reference when the stock is in the Healthy Zone, and a fishing mortality target reference (F_ref) of 0.15 would be an appropriate target when the stock is in the Cautious Zone. Given that the poor stock recruit relationship precludes the calculation of an appropriate biomass at Maximum Sustainable Yield (B_MSY), a more conservative biomass level from which the stock has been shown to recover (B_recover; Age 4+ biomass; 19,700 metric tonnes (t)) was recommended as the Limit Reference Point (LRP) for 4X5Y Haddock. In the spring of 2017, Resource Management agreed upon approximately twice the LRP, or 40,000 t, as the Upper Stock Reference (USR; Age 4+ biomass).

The objectives of this interim update are to report new information from the DFO Summer Research Vessel (RV) Survey and commercial fishery landings data, update the VPA model, evaluate the current stock status and provide catch advice.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of December 6, 2018, on the Stock Status Update of Haddock in NAFO division 4X5Y.

Science Response 2019/016 (PDF, 772 KB)

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