Terms of Reference

Regional Advisory Meeting

PSARC Pelagic Subcommittee Meeting

September 3-4, 2008

Nanaimo, BC

Chairperson: Linnea Flostrand

Background

DFO recently advanced a fishery decision-making framework incorporating the precautionary approach that is intended to assure resource sustainability and meet the requirements of various eco-certification programs. The framework requires the application of reference points, harvest rules and compliance with the precautionary approach. In response to this framework, the PSARC Pelagics Subcommittee will review a working paper that describes a revised Pacific herring assessment model that addresses various aspects of this and will be used to provide advice on harvest levels for the roe and other herring fisheries in 2009.

Objectives

1. Peer review the draft working paper, “Modeling herring population dynamics: Herring catch-at-age model version 2”;

2. Specifically review the structure and results from this implementation relative to version 1 of the model. Ensure that the modeling approach structure are scientifically sound.

3. Peer review the results from the application of the model to the available herring dataset and the scientific advice regarding precautionary harvest levels for 2009.

Products

• CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussion.

• CSAS Research document

• CSAS Science Advisory Report with maximum recommended TAC tables by herring stock assessment region

Participants

Participants (approx. 25) will include internal DFO representatives and invites from academia, First Nations, NGO’s and industry.