Terms of Reference

Assessment of Gulf of St. Lawrence Lumpfish (3pn, 4RST)

Quebec Region Science Advisory Process

Mont-Joli, QC
February 14, 2011

Chairperson: Hugo Bourdages

Context

DFO Quebec Science Branch reviews the status of some Gulf of St. Lawrence invertebrates and groundfish stocks in support of management of the fishery. Fisheries and Aquaculture management has requested a scientific advice on Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn, 4RST) Lumpfish stock status in 2011.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on the management of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Lumpfish stock status for the 2011 fishing season. This advice shall include:

• An update of the lumpfish status based on:
  • background;
  • official landing statistics derived from the directed fisheries, sentinel fisheries and lumpfish by-catches in other fisheries (ZIFF);
  • an examination of results of tagging experiments conducted since 2004;
• Specific elements concerning the development of a scientific advice, such as:
  • an update on biological indicators related to the size;
  • an update of trends of a certain amount of indicators of abundance
• The identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future.
• Identification of indicators to follow the stocks status during the years without a formal stock assessment.

Expected Publications

CSAS Science Advisory Report on Lumpfish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn, 4RST).
CSAS Research document
CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussion.

Participation

DFO Science and Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
Fishing Industry
Provincial representatives