Terms of Reference

Assessment of the St. Mary’s Bay Longhorn Sculpin (Myoxocephalus Octodecemspinosus) Fishery

Regional Advisory Process – Maritimes Region

March 3, 2020
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

The longhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus) is a bottom dwelling fish found in coastal waters of the western North Atlantic ranging from the Straight of Belle Isle, Newfoundland, south to the coast of northern Virginia.  Off Nova Scotia, they are found on Banquereau and Sable Island banks and are also common throughout the Bay of Fundy and St. Mary’s Bay.  A directed fishery for longhorn sculpin in St. Mary’s Bay (Nova Scotia) began in 1999. The fishery occurs over a 6 week period in April-May, and is limited to 4 license holders.

An assessment of this fishery occurred in 2008 (DFO 2008).  The assessment noted that catch rates declined during the 1999-2006 directed fishery then stabilized at low levels and the abundance of larger sculpin declined during this period as well as the size of sculpin in the adjacent RV survey stratum.  Although a precise estimate of the exploitation rate was not available, within season exploitation rates were considered to be high (> 30%) but insufficient information was available at the time to determine what level would be sustainable.

Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Resource Management has asked DFO Science to review all information available for evaluating the sustainability of this fishery, including fishery and survey indices, commercial fishery catch rates and in-season exploitation rates, and bycatch of non-target species, and to identify indices to monitor the fishery.

Objectives

The objectives of this meeting are:

• Evaluate abundance trends and current status using fishery indices and surveys
• Estimate exploitation rate
• Evaluate by-catch of non-target species
• Identify indices that could be developed to monitor the sustainability of the St. Mary’s Bay sculpin fishery, including a proxy for a Limit Reference Point

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management
• Provincial Government
• Fishing Industry

References

DFO. 2008. St. Mary’s Bay Longhorn Sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus) Assessment. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2008/051.