Terms of Reference

Status Updates for Thorny Skate (Atlantic/ Arctic Designatable Unit) and Smooth Skate (Laurentian-Scotian and Funk Island Deep Designatable Units)

Zonal Science Response Process - Newfoundland & Labrador, Maritimes, Gulf, Quebec, and Central & Arctic Regions

November 29, 2016
St. John’s, NL

Chairperson: James Meade

Context

This meeting is required to update existing data on Thorny Skate and Smooth Skate to determine the current state of each population in order to inform regional listing advice.  The update will involve extending the data series from that currently contained within the Science Advisory Report from the May 2013 Recovery Potential Assessment for Smooth Skate (Funk Island Deep Designatable Unit), as well as the Research Documents produced from the January 2011 pre-COSEWIC Peer Review Meeting for both species.

Objectives

• Update the biomass and abundance indices for Thorny Skate and Smooth Skate Laurentian-Scotian and Funk Island Deep Designatable Units (DUs).
• Update the commercial catch data for Smooth Skate in the Funk Island Deep DU, based on the observed portion of the catch.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, Fisheries Management, and Ecosystems Management sectors)

References

DFO. 2013. Recovery potential assessment for Smooth Skate (Malacoraja senta) Funk Island Deep designatable unit. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/035.

Simon, J.E., S. Rowe, and A. Cook. 2012. Status of Smooth Skate (Malacoraja senta) and Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the Maritimes Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/080: viii + 102 p.

Simpson, M.R., Mello, L.G.S., Miri, C., Treble, M.M., and Siferd, T. 2011. A pre-COSEWIC assessment of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata Donovan, 1808) on the Grand Bank, Newfoundland Shelf, Labrador and northern waters. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc.2011/084. iv + 56 p.

Simpson, M.R., Mello, L.G.S., Miri, C.M., Treble, M., and Siferd, T. 2012. Distribution, abundance, and life history of smooth skate (Malacoraja senta Garman 1885) in Northwest Atlantic waters. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/116. iv + 40 p.

Swain, D.P., Benoît, H.P., Daigle, D., and Aubry, É. 2012. Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence: life history, and trends from 1971 to 2010 in abundance, distribution and potential threats. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/032. iii + 42 p.

Swain, D.P., Benoît, H.P., and Aubry, É. 2012. Smooth skate (Malacoraja senta) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence: life history, and trends from 1971-2010 in abundance, distribution and potential threats. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/033. iii + 34 p.