Terms of Reference

Assessment of Gulf of St. Lawrence NAFO Divisions 4RS and Subdivision 3Pn Lumpfish

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 18, 2016
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Martin Castonguay

Context

The lumpfish fishery (or henfish) (Cyclopterus lumpus) is of very short duration in the spring, but can represent a significant extra income for the coastal fishermen who practice it. In the Gulf, this fishery is primarily directed at females for the caviar market. Lumpfish fishery management is not based on Total Allowable Catch (TAC), but rather relies on effort control which includes a series of conditions including a number of nets and duration of the fishing season. This species is currently being assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

At the request of the fisheries management Branch, resource assessment is done every five years. The purpose of the review is to determine whether changes have occurred in the status of the resource that would justify adjustments to the management plan based on the retained conservation approach.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on the management of the Gulf of St. Lawrence NAFO Divisions 4RS and Subdivision 3Pn Lumpfish for 2016-2021. This advice shall include:

• Description of the biology of Lumpfish and its distribution;
• A summary of oceanographic conditions in the Gulf;
• Analysis of the commercial fishing data including landings, fishing effort, lumpfish by-catches in other fisheries;
• An update of trends of a number of indicators relative to the abundance of the resource;
• The identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future;
• Identification of indicators to follow the stock status during the years without a formal stock assessment and criteria for the reopening of the advice;
• Perspectives for the 2016-2021 fishing seasons based on available indicators;
• Hypotheses explaining the radical decline of catches in recent years;
• Options for additional conservation measures, if required, and evaluation of their expected impacts on the stock over the next five years.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• CSAS Research document
• CSAS Proceedings summarizing discussions

Participation

• DFO Science and Fisheries Management
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives