Terms of Reference

Stock assessment for Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) in Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia

Pacific Region Science Advisory Process

November 24, 2010
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Greg Workman

Context

The last assessment of Pacific Ocean Perch (POP) was conducted in 2001; the last comprehensive assessment was in 1999.

Of the annual Total Allowable Catch of rockfish on the west coast of Canada, Pacific Ocean Perch (POP) is the species that has the largest single-species quota.  POP accounts for 25% of the total weight of rockfish landed by bottom trawl gear.

Recent trends in survey abundance indices, plus reports from industry, indicate the stock may be showing signs of decline, at least in some areas.  Updated harvest advice is required to determine if current harvest levels are sustainable and are compliant with the DFO Sustainable Fisheries Framework’s Decision-making Framework incorporating the Precautionary Approach (PA).  The request was initially submitted to Science by staff in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Management’s (FAM) Groundfish Management Unit (GMU) in 2007. Due to personnel changes and limited resources it has not been possible to address this request prior to now.

Objectives

The following working paper will be reviewed during this science advisory review process:

Edwards, Andrew M., Starr, Paul J., and Haigh, Rowan.  Stock assessment for Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) in Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia.  CSAP Working Paper 2010/P46.

Guided by the DFO Sustainable Fisheries Framework, the following objectives for this assessment have been established: 

• Assess the current biomass and status of Pacific ocean perch (POP, Sebastes alutus) in Queen Charlotte Sound (current groundfish management areas 5AB and 5CD).
• In the context of developing Precautionary Approach (PA) compliant stock assessments, recommend candidate Limit Reference Point (LRP), Upper Stock Reference Point (USR), Target Reference Point (TRP) and removal reference for each of the Pacific Ocean Perch stocks.
• Provide rationale used to select recommended candidate reference points.  Rationale should be provided if the candidate points differ from the PA framework default reference points.
• To provide in the assessment document:
• decision tables forecasting the impacts of varying harvest levels in comparison to historic (un-fished), current and future population trends;
• identification of additional information needed to enhance appropriate stock assessment advice consistent with the goal of implementing ecosystem-based fisheries management, as articulated in the Sustainable Fisheries Framework.

Expected Publications

CSAS Science Advisory Report (1)
CSAS Research Document (1)
CSAS Proceedings to document the discussions of the meeting.

Participation

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

References Cited

DFO. 2009  A fishery decision-making framework incorporating the Precautionary Approach.