Terms of Reference

Assessment of Atlantic mackerel in subareas 3 and 4

Regional Peer Review – Quebec Region

March 8–9, 2017
Mont-Joli, Quebec

Chairperson: Dominique Gascon

Context

In the Maritime Provinces, in Newfoundland and in Quebec (NAFO subareas 3 and 4), over 15,000 commercial fishers participate in the Atlantic mackerel fishery. This fishery takes place mainly inshore using gillnets, jiggers, handlines, seines and traps. The type of gear used varies by region and time of year. During the 1980s and 1990s, landings by Canadian fishermen were rather stable and averaged around 22,000 t per year. However, there has been a significant increase since the early 2000s, reaching a record high of 54,621 t in 2005 due to the marked increase in fishing effort by small and large seiners on the east and west coasts of Newfoundland (Divisions 3KL and 4R) and the presence in the population of a very important year-class (1999). The average landings of the 2006-2010 period were 43,464 t. They were followed by a severe drop reaching 11,288 t in 2011, 6,468 t in 2012 and 7,431 t in 2013. Canadian landings of Atlantic mackerel are underestimated because some logbooks from the bait fishery are not filled and there are direct sales at sea from that fishery. In addition, neither catches in the recreational fishery, which occurs during summer months all along the Atlantic coast, nor the discards of small mackerel are recorded. The abundance of the spawning stock of Atlantic mackerel is calculated using data collected from an egg survey which occurs annually in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The mackerel fishery industry recently reported that it catches a lot of fish under legal size. According to the regulations, a fisherman on a fishing trip can’t possess more than 10% of mackerel under the legal size of 26.3 cm. However, landing rates of up to 90% of fish below legal size are reported in recent years. There is little information available on the survival rate following release.

The last assessment of mackerel in subareas 3 and 4 was conducted in winter 2014. The Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch has requested a scientific advice on Atlantic mackerel in Canadian waters for the 2017 and 2018 fishing seasons. The objective of the review is to determine whether changes that have occurred in the stock status necessitate adjustments to management plans based on the conservation approach used.

Objectives

Provide a scientific advice on the management of the Atlantic mackerel in NAFO Subareas 3 and 4 (Canada’s east coast) for the 2017 and 2018 fishing seasons. This advice will include:

• An assessment of the status of Atlantic mackerel, based on:
  • a review of the population structure of Atlantic mackerel in the North Atlantic;
  • an analysis of the commercial fishery statistics following the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons (overall distribution of landings, breakdown by province, NAFO Division, fishing gear, etc…);
  • an analysis of the biological data collected in the main port of landings by port samplers or at sea by observers (size structure and calculation of biological indicators);
  • an analysis of the egg survey index for 2014, 2015 and 2016;
  • a discussion on the quality of the fishery statistics and a review of the main sources of uncertainty;
  • ecosystem and environmental considerations;
  • A presentation of the new mackerel abundance index developed by US biologists from egg data in US waters;
  • A presentation of the results of a statistical catch-at-age model that includes missing catch estimates (following a framework review in January 2017) based on the Canadian catch at the age and the egg survey index. These results will include fishing mortality, abundance and spawning biomass, updating reference points, stock trajectory and predictions of the 2017 and 2018 catches under different fishing mortality scenarios;
  • Interim evaluation for illustrative purposes of mackerel in Subareas 3 to 6 which will include US commercial catches and potentially an American egg index.
• Specific elements related to the update of the relevant data to the management of Atlantic mackerel such as:
  • 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 prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future;
  • Perspectives and/or recommendations for 2017 and 2018 based on available data;
  • Provide advice on a request from Fisheries Management to abandon the minimum size requirement.

Expected publications

• 1 Science Advisory Report
• 1 Proceedings
• Research Documents

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Fisheries Management sectors)
• NOAA Representatives / National Marine Fisheries Service, USA
• Industry representatives
• Provincial representatives
• Academics
• Aboriginal communities/organizations
• Environmental NGOs