Atlantic Fisheries Research Document 1996/057

An assessment of the west coast of Newfoundland (NAFO Division 4R) herring fishery data (1973 to 1995)

By I.H. McQuinn; L. Lefebvre

Abstract

Herring in western Newfoundland are mainly caught by large and small purse seiners, and fixed gillnetters, although since 1988, the proportion of the catch taken by the purse seines has ranged from 90 to 98%. In 1994 and 1995, total landings were below 14,600 t due to the restrictions imposed on the capture of spring-spawning herring. The spring-spawner catch-rate and questionnaire data indicated that the mature biomass in the southern spawning grounds had dropped steadily since between 1987 and 1994, primarily due to poor recruitment over the last decade. The 1995 acoustic survey estimated a minimum biomass of 84,000 t (38,000 t of spring spawners and 46,000 t of autumn spawners) with 64% of the herring biomass being surveyed in the two northern most strata. Both the spring- and autumn-spawning herring found along the coast were dominated by younger year-classes which have recruited to these stocks over the past five years. In 1995, the 1987 year-class was for the first time as important on the southern spawning beds as the 1980 and 1982 year-classes. Comments from inshore fishermen indicated a slight improvement in spring-spawning activity in Port-au-Port. The delayed opening of St. George's Bay and Port-au-Port Bay in 1995 had the desired effect of concentrating fishing on the autumn spawners, of decreasing the quantity of spring spawners in the total catch, and of allowing the remaining fish to spawn undisturbed. Fishing effort must continue to be restricted in these areas until there are indications of significant improvement in this local component. We conclude that, in general, the 4R herring stocks are healthy and a TAC of 22,000 t of spring- and autumn-spawning herring outside closed areas would not be excessive.

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