Terms of Reference

NAFO Subarea 0 Deepwater Redfish (Sebastes mentella): Addendum to the recovery potential assessment of redfish in the northwest Atlantic

Regional Science Response Process – Central and Arctic Region

November 6, 2013
Teleconference/WebEx

Chairperson: Kathleen Martin

Context

In April 2010, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the Deepwater Redfish/Acadian Redfish complex (Sebastes mentella and S. fasciatus) in Canada. The Deepwater Redfish (S. mentella) - Northern population, distributed from Baffin Bay south to the Gulf of Main corresponding to Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subarea (SA) 0+2+ Divisions (Div.) 3KLNO, was designated as Threatened (COSEWIC 2010).

A species Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) process has been developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science to provide the information and scientific advice required by the Department to meet the various requirements of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). An RPA for redfish species was undertaken in March 2011 (DFO 2011). However, the available data for assessing the Northern population trends in abundance came from research surveys conducted in a subset of the Northern population’s distribution (Div. 2J + 3KLNO).  These survey data and commercial catch data from SA 2 and Divisions 3KLNO were used for stochastic projections.  Data for redfish in SA 0 are limited to recent surveys and bycatch from the commercial Greenland Halibut and shrimp fisheries. There is no history of commercial redfish fishing in SA 0. As a result data from SA 0 were not considered during the RPA and there is no advice in the RPA specific to SA 0. A second meeting was held to develop precautionary approach (PA) reference points for SA 2+ Div. 3K in October 2011. Redfish in SA 0 were not considered in that assessment.

As a result, the Species at Risk program in Central and Arctic Region asked whether the conclusions and advice of the RPA (DFO 2011) and reference points (DFO 2012) developed for the Northern population of Deepwater Redfish can be applied to SA 0. More specifically, what level of harm could be allowed in SA 0 that would still allow the population to persist/recover?

Conclusions and advice regarding the application of reference points for NAFO SA 0 are not being considered in this assessment.

Objectives

To examine bycatch and survey data to evaluate if the current level of Deepwater Redfish bycatch in SA 0 would allow the Northern population to persist or recover over some time frame.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, Resource Management, Species at Risk and Policy and Economics programs)

References

COSEWIC. 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Deepwater Redfish/Acadian Redfish complex Sebastes mentella and Sebastes fasciatus, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. x + 80 p.

DFO. 2011. Recovery potential assessment of redfish (Sebastes fasciatus and S. mentella) in the northwest Atlantic. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/044.

DFO. 2012. Reference points for redfish (Sebastes mentella and Sebastes fasciatus) in the northwest Atlantic. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/004.