Terms of Reference

Science Advisory Process on the Assessment of Marine Worms in the Maritimes Region

9 February 2009

Gully Boardroom, BIO

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Context

Marine worms belong to a phylum of animals known as the annelids. A common intertidal species of marine worm in Nova Scotia is the bloodworm. Other types of marine worms include sandworms. Marine worms have been harvested year-round by digging with hand tools in the shallow mud of the tidal flats for decades in Southwest Nova Scotia. The worms are primarily exported to the United States and sold as bait for sports fishermen.

DFO Maritimes Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch has requested Science Branch to review the scientific survey, stock assessment methodologies and indicators required to monitor the future health of marine worm stocks for a sustainable fishery. Marine worms have not previously undergone a peer reviewed assessment by DFO Science.

Objectives

Fishery

• Provide an overview of the marine worm fishery in the Maritimes Region.

Stock Status

• Review the methods that have been used to assess the status of marine worms in the Maritimes Region, including: 
• • indicators of maturity,
  • delineation of beds, and
  • transfer experiments.
• Review survey methods, including monitoring measures that would provide the most practical and effective means to support scientific requirements for sustainable management of the stock. 
• Review the status of marine worms for selected mud flats, including evaluation of indicators of abundance and size.  
• Discuss other science considerations, including serial depletion and Allee effects.

Ecosystem Impacts

• Discuss the ecosystem implications of the marine worm fishery in the Maritimes Region, such as impacts to habitat and impacts to other species.

Management Advice

• Evaluate potential management options for consideration.

Outputs

CSAS Science Advisory Report
CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussion
CSAS Research Document

Participation

DFO Maritimes Science
DFO Maritimes Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
Environment Canada
Provincial Government (NS and NB)
Industry
Invited reviewers