Terms of Reference

Assessment of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland halibut

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 22, 2017
Mont-Joli, Quebec

Chairperson: Denis Chabot

Context

The Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland halibut (also called black turbot, or more commonly turbot) fishery is now dominated by boats equipped with gillnets, whose home ports are located in Quebec or on the west coast of Newfoundland. In order to protect the population’s reproductive potential, this fishery is subject to several management measures including the control of catches by a total allowable catches (TAC).

At the request of the fisheries management Branch, resource assessment is done every two 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 Greenland halibut stock status in NAFO Divisions 4RST. This advice shall include:

• Description of the biology of Greenland halibut and its distribution;
• A summary of oceanographic conditions in the Gulf;
• Analysis of the commercial fishing data including landings, fishing effort, catch per unit effort, biological data and Greenland halibut by-catches in other fisheries;
• Analysis of data from the DFO annual research trawl survey in August and mobile sentinel fisheries;
• Analysis of fishing effort distribution according to Greenland halibut abundance distribution;
• Analysis of the Statistical Catch at Length (SCALE) model as a potential tool for assessing the Greenland halibut population;
• Identification of reference points consistent with the precautionary approach;
• Analysis of by-catch from directed fisheries for Greenland halibut;
• Perspectives for 2017 and 2018 based on available indicators;
• The determination of the process to provide advice during the interim years, including a description of conditions that may warrant a full stock assessment earlier than originally planned;
• Identification and priorization of research projects to be considered for the future.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report on the Greenland halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST)
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives
• Aboriginal communities/organizations