Terms of Reference

Regional Advisory Meeting

Assessment of the Status of Sculpin in St. Mary’s Bay

June 20, 2008

Bedford Institute of Oceanography,

Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Mark Showell

Context

A sculpin fishery has been underway in St. Mary’s Bay since 1999 with annual landings in the order of 50 – 150 t. An evaluation of the sustainability of these catch levels has been requested as well as the impact of the fishery on the Bay’s benthic community and bycatch species, lobster in particular.

Objectives

The following issues will be addressed in order to develop scientific consensus through peer review:

• Describe biology of the species, based upon studies both in the Maritimes and elsewhere, including (to the extent possible):

• Distribution of the resource and comment on relationship of sculpin inside and outside of St. Mary’s Bay

• Growth characteristics, including size at maturity, generation time, longevity, etc

• Role in ecosystem including predators and prey

• Habitat preferences

• Describe the directed fishery, including:

• Gear used

• Catch by area and season

• Size composition of landings by area and season

• Description of sculpin catches from other fisheries

• Evaluation of abundance trends and current status using fishery indices and surveys if available

• Evaluation of impact of the sculpin fishery on the ecosystem (to the extent possible), including:

• Description of bycatch.

• Description of the area of Bay affected with comment on the predominant benthic communities.

Outputs

CSAS Science Advisory Report

CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussion

CSAS Research Document

Participation

DFO Science

DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Fishing industry

NS and NB provincial representatives

Aboriginal communities / organizations

Non-governmental organizations