Terms of Reference

Update of Stock Status Indicators for Cod (3Pn4RS) in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Science Response Process – Quebec Region

January 15, 2020
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Charley Cyr

Context

The northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn4RS) cod (Gadus morhua) stock assessment is conducted every two years and the last assessment took place in February 2019. In the interim years, Fisheries management asks for a brief review of the main resource indicators to determine if major changes in the stock status have occurred that warrant further consideration prior to the full assessment planned for winter 2021.

Objectives

The meeting objectives are to review the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn, 4RS) cod indicators in 2019, namely:

• Updating commercial fisheries landings
• Updating abundance indices from DFO and Sentinel Fisheries surveys with fixed gear (gillnet and longline) and mobile gear (trawl)

Expected Publications

• A Science Response
• A CSAS Research Document on the results from the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary survey in August 2019 in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Resources management sectors)