Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/030

Assessment of 4X haddock stock

By P.C.F. Hurley; G. Black; R.K. Mohn; P. Comeau

Abstract

Reported landings of 4X haddock in 1995 were 5,416t, while the TAC was 6,000t. This shortfall occurred primarily in the fixed gear sector, as a result of extremely restrictive fishing plans and in many cases because cod allocations were taken first. As a result of a number of new control measures, it is believed that the 1995 landings data are more accurate than in past years. The size composition of landings in 1995 was comparable to the long term mean but mean size decreased with respect to 1994. Haddock were more widely distributed in the 1995 research vessel survey and overall abundance increased again from the historic low in 1993, with small haddock encountered throughout the survey area. Results of a survey conducted by the ITQ fleet in co-operation with DFO Science Branch were comparable with the research vessel survey results and provided valuable information on the inshore area not covered by the research vessel survey. New haddock ageing criteria have been defined and routine ageing resumed. Revised ageing data for research vessel survey samples for 1987-95 were used to generate catch-at-age numbers for the research vessel survey, and in the absence of revised ageing data for commercial samples, multi-year age/length keys from the research vessel survey were used to generate a commercial catch-at-age for 1987-95 as an interim measure. These were used in a traditional Sequential Population Analysis. The analysis indicated that: fishing mortality has decreased from high levels in 1991-92 but is still above F_0.1; spawning stock biomass increased slightly from a historic low of 14,000t in 1994; and with the exception of the 1987 and 1988 year-classes, recruitment has been below average from 1983-91. The 1992 year-class is estimated to be average in strength and the 1993 year-class is estimated to be well above average in strength, although both spawning stock biomass and fish condition were at historic lows. Projections from the analysis indicate that the projected F_0.1 yield in 1997 would be about 6,700t. Spawning stock biomass would increase to 54,000t by the end of 1997. The abundance of small fish will be high in 1997 and the use of strict small fish protocols and area and season closures should be continued.

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