Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/033

A review of the 4VWX3NOPs halibut stock

By C. Annand; D. Beanlands

Abstract

A precautionary TAC of 850 t was in place for the 1995 halibut fishery. The domestic landings were below the TAC at 708 t. Allocations in 1995, under the 850 t TAC, were restrictive only to the (4VWX3NOPs) 65'-100'fixed gear fleet and the <65' mobile gear fleet bycatch fishery on the Scotian Shelf. However, the 4VWX <65' longline fleet stayed within their allocation through the use of monthly quotas, and some quota groups permitting only a bycatch or catch and release fishery in their 1995 Management Plan. The European Union (EU) continues to report variable halibut catches outside the 200 mile limit that are not accounted for under the current management plan. Small longliners account for over 70% of the landings. Commercial catch rates for this fleet have declined gradually (4VWX) or showed stability (3NOPs) in recent years, but declined significantly in 1995. Management measures implemented in order to deal with the reduced TAC and fleet allocations may have negatively impacted the commercial catch rates. Total effort for the whole area increased in 1995 and in 4VWX increased since 1993. Although a large scale redirection of effort to halibut as a result of closures in other fisheries is not evident, the increased effort was noted, especially in 4VWX. Research surveys indicated an increase in abundance between 1983 and 1991 and have declined since. The surveys generally catch smaller halibut than the commercial fishery, and suggest a decline in recruiting yearclasses. The FRCC recommended a TAC of 850 t for the 1996 fishery. However, all biological indicators indicate a resource in a severely depressed state and maintenance of the existing level of effort on this stock is likely to further the decline in the resource. There is a need to define effective management measures for the 1997 fishery to reduce the effort on this stock.

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