Terms of Reference

3Ps Witch Flounder Stock Assessment

Regional Peer Review – Newfoundland and Labrador Region

December 4-5, 2017
St. John’s, NL

Chairperson: Brian Healey

Context

The status of the Witch Flounder stock in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subdivision 3Ps was last assessed in 2013. The current assessment is requested by Fisheries Management to inform the development of management measures for the stock for the upcoming fishing season(s).

Objective

• Provide an ecosystem overview (e.g., physical and biological oceanography, predators, prey) for the stock.
• Report on commercial fishery statistics (overall landing distribution, breakdown by fishing gear) and biological data resulting from the commercial sampling program (size structure).
• Analyze historical data from the research surveys up to 2017 (abundance index, biomass, recruitment, size structure and geographical distribution of catches).
• Identify biomass and/or fishing mortality Limit Reference Points (or appropriate proxies).
• Identify indicators that should be evaluated during the years without a formal stock assessment.
• Evaluate the impact of maintaining and increasing current harvest levels.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document
• Proceedings^{Footnote 1}

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, Fisheries Management)
• Provincial Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
• French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER)
• Academia
• Indigenous groups
• Fishing Industry
• Non-governmental organizations

References

DFO. 2014. Stock Assessment of NAFO Subdivision 3Ps Witch Flounder. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/077