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Assessment of the Stimpson’s surfclam fishery in the Quebec’s inshore waters

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 9, 2012
Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Louise Gendron

Context

Stimpson's surfclam (Mactromeris polynyma) fishing is a recent activity in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Landings in recent years have been about 900 t and came mostly from the North Shore. The exploitation of beds is conducted using a hydraulic dredge, on sandy substrates located 10 to 25 m deep.

Quebec waters are divided into ten fishing areas to which access is limited to a restricted number of fishermen. The effort is also controlled by a fishing season and catches are limited by quota. Until now, the adjustment of the quotas was done with caution due to the slow growth and the sedentariness of this mollusc.

At the request of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch, resource assessment is done every three years. The last Stimpson’s surfclam stock review was done in 2009. The objective of the review is to determine whether changes that have occurred in the stock status necessitate adjustments to management plans based on the conservation approach taken.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on the management of Stimpson’s surfclam stocks in Quebec’s inshore waters (management units 1 to 5) for fishing seasons 2012 to 2014. This advice shall include:

Expected Publications

Participation

Notice

Participation to CSAS peer review meetings is by invitation only.

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