Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of Offshore Scallop: Browns Bank North and Georges Bank

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

April 3, 2017
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

The purpose of this science response process is to update the stock status of offshore scallop on Browns Bank North and Georges Bank. The last full assessment of these stocks was in 2013 (DFO 2013a,b; Hubley et al. 2013) and the last updates were conducted in 2016 (DFO 2016a,b). The management of the offshore scallop fishery on Browns Bank refers to the northern part of the bank. Browns Bank South is a marginal growth area for scallops and has separate management measures. The assessment and advice presented in the Browns Bank North update uses the framework established in 2011 (Hubley et al. 2011) for Browns Bank North. The management of the offshore scallop fishery on Georges Bank refers to zone ‘a’. Georges Bank zone ‘b’ is a marginal growth area for Scallops and has separate management measures. The assessment and advice presented in the Georges Bank update uses the framework established in 2009 (Jonsen et al. 2009) and are for Georges Bank zone ‘a’ only; some elements of the fishery in zone ‘b’ are also presented for historical purposes. This science response process uses key results from the last assessments with data from 2016, in order to provide science advice for the management of the 2017 offshore scallop fishery on Browns Bank North and Georges Bank.

Objectives

The objective of this regional science response process is to provide updated advice on the stock status of offshore scallops on Browns Bank North (Scallop Fishing Area 26) and Georges Bank ‘a’ (Scallop Fishing Area 27). The advice is to include a range of harvest scenarios and expected results.

Expected Publications

• Science Response for Georges Bank ‘a’
• Science Response for Browns Bank North

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

DFO. 2013a. Assessment of Browns Bank North Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/059.

DFO. 2013b. Assessment of Georges Bank Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/058.

DFO. 2016a. Assessment Update of Browns Bank North Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/039.

DFO. 2016b. Assessment Update of Georges Bank Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2016/040.

Hubley, P.B., A. Reeves, S.J. Smith, and L. Nasmith. 2013. Georges Bank ‘a’ and Browns Bank ‘North’ Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) Stock Assessment. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2013/079.

Hubley, P.B., A. Glass, A. Reeves, J. Sameoto, and S.J. Smith. 2011. Browns Bank North Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) Stock Assessment. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/042.

Jonsen, I.D., A. Glass, B. Hubley, and J. Sameoto. 2009. Georges Bank ‘a’ Scallop Framework Assessment: Data Inputs and Population Models. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/034.