Terms of Reference

Stock Status Updates of Groundfish Stocks in the Maritimes Region

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

December 5-6, 2018
St. Andrews, NB

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

In the Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries and Aquaculture Branch request an annual assessment of resource status for a variety of groundfish species.  DFO conducts full peer-reviewed stock assessments for a number of groundfish stocks on a multi-year assessment schedule; however, in the interim-years, monitoring continues with Science providing annual updates on the status of these stocks.  In addition, DFO has conducted an annual Summer Research Vessel (RV) Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization divisions 4VWX and a small portion of 5Y since 1970.  Results of these updates and the annual RV Survey are used for discussion with various industry stakeholders on recommendations for management measures, with the results of the RV Survey used to determine which stocks should be reviewed in more detail. 

Objective

The objective of this Regional Science Response process is to review and evaluate biological and fishery information as well as provide updated advice on the status of the following stocks: Atlantic Halibut, Cusk, Haddock, Pollock, Redfish, and the RV Survey Trends.The objectives of each review are provided below. 

3NOPs4VWX+5 Atlantic Halibut

• Review of biological and fishery information on 3NOPs4VWX5 Atlantic Halibut stock. In particular, update the landings, Research Vessel (RV) survey index of abundance and the halibut survey index of exploitable biomass to include 2018, the trend in fishing mortality (F) from traditional tagging, and provide 2019 catch advice.
• Evaluate the habitat survey index of abundance relative to the reference points.

4VWX5 Cusk

• Provide the three-year geometric mean of the Cusk catch per unit effort from the DFO-Industry longline survey relative to the Upper Stock Reference (26.6 kg/1000 hooks) and the Limit Reference Point (13.3 kg/1000 hooks); and
• Provide updated landings information, as available

4X5Y Haddock

• Evaluate biological and fishery information on 4X5Y Haddock stock status and characterize the uncertainty of the results.  In particular, information on survey catch distribution, biomass estimates, Length at age, weight at age, age composition, highlighting any trends over the long-term (length of assessment) and most recent period (5 years); and,
• Evaluate the current stock status of the stock relative to the adopted reference points.
• For a range of total catch values, estimate the risk that fishing mortality rate would exceed F=0.15 (FREF) and F=0.25 (FLIM) in 2019/20 and 2020/21.  Include a table showing the catches corresponding to low (25%), neutral (50%) and high (75%) probability that F would exceed F=0.15 and F=0.25.
• For a range of total catch values, estimate the probability that biomass would be less than LSR and the USR.

Western Component Pollock

• Provide the 2018/19 Western Component Pollock catch level generated by the Harvest Control Rule described in the 2011 Science Advisory Report DFO 2011/054.
• Update other indices of biomass for the WC Pollock stock, specifically US surveys and Canadian summer survey sets on Georges Bank.

4VWX and 5Y Research Vessel Survey Trends

• Review and evaluate information obtained from the DFO Research Vessel (RV) Survey on the Scotian Shelf and in the Bay of Fundy. Specifically, update the RV survey trends document to include
• Survey data for 2018;
• Provide information on distribution, biomass estimates and length composition, highlighting biomass trends relative to 40% and 80% of the long-term average.
• A table reporting the biomass estimate for each stock for 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as the averages; and,
• The three-year geometric mean of the 42 cm+ 4X5 White Hake

Unit 3 Redfish

• Review of biological and fishery information on Unit 3 Redfish stock status.  In particular, provide update the distribution, biomass estimates, length composition, and condition, highlighting any trends over the long-term (length of assessment) and most recent period (5 years).
• Evaluate the current status of the stock relative to the adopted reference points.
• Report on the bycatch of non-target species in the Unit 3 Redfish Fishery

Expected Publications

• Science Response(s)

Expected Participation

• DFO Science, Maritimes Region
• DFO Resource Management, Maritimes Region