Terms of Reference

Development of a Monitoring Framework for the establishment of a Commercial Whelk Fishery in the Maritimes Region (4VS and 4W)

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

Location: Bedford Institute of Oceanography

Date: February 19th, 2020

Chairperson: Michelle Greenlaw

Buccinum undatum, the waved whelk, is a ubiquitous marine gastropod within the North Atlantic. They are distributed from the low water mark to depths of up to 600 m but are most abundant in the shallower portion of that range (Hansson 1998; Weetman et al. 2006; Włodarska-Kowalczuk 2007; Heude-Berthelin et al. 2011). Their reproductive cycle involves internal fertilization and direct development of larvae within demersal egg capsules. This lack of planktonic larvae coupled with limited adult movement (Pálsson et al. 2014, Lapointe and Sainte-Marie 1992; Hancock, 1963; Himmelman and Hamel 1993) results in a limited dispersal in this species. A growing body of research has shown whelk to exhibit variation in shell morphology, size at sexual maturity, and size frequency as well as genetic differentiation over relatively small spatial scales (Weetman et al. 2006; Shelmerdine et al. 2007; Pálsson et al. 2014; McIntyre et al. 2015; Valentinsson et al. 1999), representing different populations as a result of low dispersal. This makes whelk populations vulnerable to local depletion or even extirpation (Gendron 1991; de Jonge et al. 1993), and slow to recover from their removal.

There is currently an exploratory whelk fishery in NAFO Divisions 4W and 4Vs with commercial quantities being found in the offshore 4Vs area and increased landings in 4W. Developing an assessment of stock, however, is hampered by limited information with regards to natural density of whelks within fished areas and spatial variation in whelk abundances. Currently, there are no independent surveys and thus information on these stocks is based on data collected by the exploratory license holders (Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd. and Premium Seafoods Ltd.). Fisheries Management has requested advice from DFO Science on assessing current metrics gathered by the license holders and establishing priority areas for research and analysis that will enable development of a stock assessment framework if a commercial fishery is to be established for Offshore 4Vs and/or 4W whelk. The information will be used by license holders to improve their research and fishing plans and ultimately to develop an assessment framework for the fishery to move to commercial status  that is consistent with DFO's Precautionary Approach Policy.

Objectives

1. Review current biological knowledge and fisheries practices for whelk
2. Determine indicators of stock status and sampling methods that could be used to develop a monitoring framework for whelk
3. Assess the adequacy of current data collection and reporting methods to develop indicators
4. Review research priorities of the industry
5. Review additional and/or alternative data sources for monitoring stock status
6. Identify potential risks to the whelk population(s) when developing management strategies
7. Determine the responsibilities of the parties (DFO, Industry) to developing the framework

Expected Publications
Science Advisory Report
Research Document
Proceedings

Expected Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management
• Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
• Academics
• Aboriginal communities/organizations
• Fishing industry
• Non-government organizations

References
de Jonge VN, Essink K, Boddeke R (1993) The Dutch Wadden Sea: a changed ecosystem. Hydrobiologia 265: 45-71.
Gendron L (1991) Gestion de l'exploitation du buccin Buccinum undatum au Quebec : determination d'une taille minimal de capture. Rapp. Tech. can. Sci. halieut. Aquat. 1833, 47.
Hancock, DA (1967) Whelks. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries  and Food, Laboratory Leaflet No. 15, Fisheries Laboratory, Brunhan of Crouch, Essex.
Hansson HG (1998) NEAT (North East Atlantic Taxa) database. Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory. http://www.tmbl.gu.se/libdb/taxon/taxa.html.
Heude-Berthelin, C, Hégron-Macé, L, Legrand, V, Jouaux, A, Adeline, B, Mathieu, M, Kellner, K (2011) Growth and reproduction of the common whelk Buccinum undatum in west Cotentin (Channel), France. Aquatic Living Resources. 24:317-327.
Himmelman JH, Hamel J-R (1993) Diet, behavior and reproduction of the whelk Buccinum undatum in the northern gulf of St. Lawrence, eastern Canada. Marine Biology. 116(3):423-430.
Lapointe V, Sainte-Marie B (1992) Currents, predators, and the aggregation of the gastropod Buccinum undatum around bait. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 85:245-257.
McIntyre R, Lawler A, Masefiled R (2015) Size of maturity of the common whelk, Buccinum undatum: Is the minimum landing size in England too low? Fisheries Research. 162:53-57.
Pálsson S, Magnúsdóttir H, Reynisdóttir S, Jónsson ZO, Örnólfsdóttir EB (2014) Divergence and molecular variation in common whelk Buccinum undatum (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) in Iceland: A trans-Atlantic comparison. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 111: 145-159.
Shelmerdine RL, Adamson J, Laurenson CH, Leslie B (2007) Size variation of the common whelk, Buccinum undatum, over large and small spatial scales: Potential implications for micro-management within the fishery. Fisheries Research. 86: 201-206.
Valentinsson, D, Sjodin F, Jonsson PR, Nilsson P, Wheatley C (1999) Appraisal of the potential for a future fishery on whelks (Buccinum undatum) in Swedish waters: CPUE and biological aspects. Fisheries Research. 42:215-227.
Weetman, D, Hauser, L, Bayes, MK, Ellis, JR, Shaw, PW (2006) Genetic population structure across a range of geographic scales in the commercially exploited marine gastropod Buccinum undatum. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 317: 157-169.
Włodarska-Kowalczuk, M (2007) Molluscs in Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen, Svalbard): a species list and patterns of distribution and diversity. Polar research. 26: 48-63.