Terms of Reference

Stock status and fishery advice for May 2017 to May 2022 for Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) from NAFO Division 4T, southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Regional Peer Review – Gulf Region

March 1, 2017
Moncton, NB

Chairperson: Hugues Benoît

Context

The Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T) is managed using a five-year management plan with an annual total allowable catch set at 300 t, by fishing years May 15, 2012 to May 14, 2017. The last stock assessment was completed in February 2012 for the fishery years May 2012 to May 2017 (DFO 2012; Morin et al. 2012). The NAFO 4T stock of Winter Flounder has experienced both long term and recent declines in abundance with increased natural mortality considered an important factor driving the dynamics of this stock. The research vessel and sentinel biomass indices for commercial sizes of Winter Flounder in recent years show that there has been no improvement in biomass since the last assessment with commercial biomass remaining at record low level (DFO 2016a).

In support of DFO Ecosystems and Fisheries Management multi-year management approach and request for advice for a TAC decision for May 2017 to May 2022, DFO Science Branch Gulf Region will undertake a peer review of the stock status and develop management advice for the fishery on Winter Flounder from NAFO Div. 4T.

Objectives

To develop science advice in support of the multi-year TAC decision (May 2017 to May 2022) for Winter Flounder (NAFO Div. 4T) the following items will be considered.

• Amounts, age, and size structure of the catch of Winter Flounder from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence fisheries to 2016.
• Indices of abundance of Winter Flounder from the research vessel and sentinel fishery surveys.
• Best estimates from a population model of the spawning stock biomass, recruitment, recruitment rates, and mortality rates (fishing, natural) to 2016.
• Definition and revision (if warranted) of reference points for the Winter Flounder stock of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
• Status of the stock relative to defined biological reference points.
• Population trajectories under current productivity (growth, recruitment, natural mortality) rates and assuming an annual total allowable catch of Winter Flounder of 100 t, 200 t or 300 t, and probabilities of the spawning stock biomass being in the critical zone, the cautious zone, or the healthy zone of the Precautionary Approach framework for 2017 to 2022.
• As per DFO (2016b), identify indicators which would be used to characterize stock status in the intervening years of the five-year assessment and management cycle, the changes in the indicators which would suggest that a full stock re-assessment may be warranted earlier than the scheduled five-year stock assessment cycle, and propose the frequency and timing of interim-year updates to be provided between full peer-reviewed stock assessments as well as the information to be included within the updates.
• Identification of uncertainties and knowledge gaps.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report
• CSAS Proceedings
• CSAS Research Document

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management)
• Fishing industry
• Aboriginal organizations
• Provinces
• External experts

References

DFO. 2012. Assessment of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/016.

DFO. 2016a. Updated indices of abundance to 2015 for stocks of six groundfish species assessed by DFO Gulf Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/016.

DFO. 2016b. Guidelines for providing interim-year updates and science advice for multi-year assessments. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/020.

Morin, R., Swain, D.P. and LeBlanc, S.G. 2012. The status of NAFO Division 4T winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), February 2012. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/053. iii + 60 p.