Terms of Reference

Stock Assessment of Atlantic Cod in NAFO 4X5Y

Regional Peer Review – Maritimes Region

December 4, 2018
St. Andrews, NB

Chairperson: Kirsten Clark

Context

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) ranges from Georges Bank to northern Labrador in the Canadian Atlantic. There are several concentrations of cod within this range, including those on the Southern Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 4X and 5Y. In 2010, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the southern population unit (4X5YZjm) as Endangered, and a Recovery Potential Assessment was completed in 2011. The last 4X5Y Cod stock assessment was conducted in 2008 (DFO 2009), with stock status updates provided in 2014 (DFO 2015), 2016 (DFO 2017) and 2017 (DFO 2018).

A framework assessment for the 4X5Y Cod stock was undertaken in March and November 2018, including a review of data and inputs, ecosystem information, modelling approaches, and data-limited approaches. Fisheries Management has requested that DFO Science apply the modelling approach developed in November 2018 to provide catch advice and inform the rebuilding plan for this stock.

Objective

The objectives of this regional peer review process are to:

• Evaluate any new biological and fishery information on 4X5Y Cod.
• Evaluate the current status of the stock relative to B_lim.
• Evaluate the consequences of different harvest levels during the 2019 and 2020 fishery on stock abundance and fishing mortality. For a range of total catch values, estimate the probability that spawning biomass at the beginning of year 2020 and 2021 would not increase from the previous year’s level.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, Ecosystem Management, and Fisheries and Aquaculture Management)
• Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
• Academics
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Fishing industry
• Other invited experts

References

DFO. 2009. Assessment of Cod in division 4X in 2008. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/018.

DFO. 2015. 2014 4X5Yb Atlantic Cod Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2015/010.

DFO. 2017. 2016 4X5Yb Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) Stock Status Update. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2017/024.

DFO. 2018. Stock Status Update of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in NAFO Divisions 4X5Yb. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2018/020.