Terms of Reference

Maritimes Region Science Advisory Process

Assessment of Bay of Fundy Scallop

Ron Trites Boardroom, Bedford Institute of Oceanography
11-12 December 2008

Context

In support of the fishery for scallop in the Bay of Fundy (Scallop Production Areas [SPAs] 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6), DFO Maritimes Fisheries and Aquaculture Management has asked Science for an assessment of resource status and the consequences of various harvest levels for the coming fishing season. The current meeting is a scientific review of the assessment and projections undertaken in support of the 2009 fishery.

Objectives

For each of SPA 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6:

• Assess the status of scallop stocks by SPA, taking into account available commercial and survey information. In addition, the assessment model used in CSAS Research Document 2003/10 should be applied for SPAs 1A, 1B, 3, and 4.
• Evaluate bycatch of non-scallop species during the 2008 fishery.
• Evaluate the consequences of different harvest levels during the 2009 fishery on stock abundance and exploitation rate by SPA. For SPA 1B, these consequences should be provided for subareas SFA 28C, 28D, and the rest of SPA 1B (SFA 28B minus SPA 6).

Outputs

• CSAS Science Advisory Report (separate section of report for each SPA)
• CSAS Proceedings
• CSAS Research Document

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
• Aboriginal communities / organizations
• Provincial (NS and NB) governments
• Industry