Terms of Reference

Zonal Advisory Meeting

Northern Shrimp Zonal Advisory Process (ZAP)

March 6-8, 2008

March 10-14, 2008¹

St. John’s, NL

Chairperson: Noel Cadigan

Context

The status of Northern Shrimp in Divisions 0B to 3K was last assessed in March 2006. The 2008 assessment will also include Shrimp Fishing Areas (SFAs) 0, 2, and 3 for both Northern and Striped Shrimp. An assessment framework for Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) in SFAs 4, 5, and 6 was reviewed in May 2007.²

The current assessment is requested by Fisheries and Aquaculture Management to provide harvest advice for 2008.

These stocks will be assessed in a zonal advisory meeting (ZAP) every two years.

¹A second week has been planned to word craft the complete text of the SAR. Summary bullets for each stock will be agreed upon in plenary during the March 3-5, 2008 meetings. RAP participants are encouraged to attend the second week of discussions and assist in the drafting of the SAR.

²DFO, 2007. Assessment Framework for Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) off Labrador and the northeastern coast of Newfoundland; 28-30 May 2007. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2007/034.

Objectives

• Applicability of framework extension to cover all SFAs.

• Assessment of Northern Shrimp in Divisions 2G to 3K (SFAs 4 to 6).

• Assessment of Northern and Striped Shrimp in SFAs 0, 2, and 3.

• Examination of harvest advice in relation to survey biomass for SFAs 0, 2, 3, and 4.

• A review of an experiment to determine the appropriate Nordmore grate space size in SFA 4.

• Examine the possibility of redefining shrimp fishing area boundaries in the Resolution Island area.

Products

Two Science Advisory Reports (SARs) will be produced during the zonal Northern Shrimp assessment: Newfoundland and Labrador Region will produce a SAR for Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 4 - Division 2G, SFA 5 - Hopedale and Cartwright Channels and SFA 6 - Hawke Channel + Division 3K. Central and Arctic Region will produce a SAR for SFAs 0, 2 and 3.

Associated research documents will also be produced to support these SARs. A Proceedings document will record the meeting discussions.

Participation

• DFO Science, Newfoundland and Labrador, Central and Arctic and NCR

• DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Newfoundland and Labrador and Central and Arctic

• Industry Representatives

• Fish, Food and Allied Workers Representatives

• Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture

• Nunavut Territorial Government representation

• Memorial University

• Members of the public with knowledge of the fishery and/or shrimp biology.