Terms of Reference

Assessment of herring (4S)

Quebec Region Science Advisory Process

Mont-Joli, Qc
February 18, 2011

Chairperson: Charley Cyr

Context

DFO Quebec Science Branch reviews the status of some Gulf of St. Lawrence invertebrates and fish stocks in support of the fisheries management. Fisheries and Aquaculture management has requested a scientific advice on herring (4S) in 2011.

Objectives

Provide a scientific advice on the management of the two herring stocks of NAFO Division 4S for the 2011 and 2012 fishing seasons. This advice shall include.

• An assessment of the spring and autumn spawning herring stocks based on:
  • commercial fishery statistics following the 2006 to 2010 fishing seasons (overall distribution of landings, breakdown by unit area, month and fishing gear);
  • examination of the main biological parameters (growth, maturity and condition) and size structure based on commercial sampling data;
  • Inter-laboratory comparison of age readings and demographic structure of the two herring stocks;
  • Data from the CCGS Teleost research surveys conducted in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (dispersion, occupancy, geographic range and concentration indices);
  • Calculation of an abundance index for each spawning stock based on the data from the 2010 acoustic survey.
• Specific elements related to the update of the relevant data to the management of the stocks such as:
• Comments from industry.
• The identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future.
• Perspectives and/or recommendations for 2011 and 2012 based on available data.
• TESA (Technical Expertise in Stock Assessment) recommendations concerning an eventual analytical assessment of the two herring stocks of NAFO Division 4S.

Expected Publications

CSAS Science Advisory Report on herring (4S).
CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussion.
CSAS Research documents

Participation

DFO Science and Fisheries Management
Fishing Industry
Provincial representatives