Research Document 1997/116
An assessment of the west coast of Newfoundland (NAFO Div. 4R) herring stocks (1973 to 1996)
By I.H. McQuinn and L. Levebvre
Abstract
Both spring- and autumn-spawning herring are found along the west coast of Newfoundland (4R). These stocks are exploited from April to December mainly by large and small purse seiners and to a lesser extent by fixed gillnetters. The 1997 assessment indicates that their stock status is generally healthy. Relatively young year-classes are in abundance among both the spring- and autumn-spawning herring in the purse seine fishery, as well as in the research surveys, and a high proportion of very old fish still appear in the catch. The 1995 fall acoustic survey estimated the minimum abundance of herring available along the west coast at that time at approximately 84,000 t.
It is concluded that the current TAC of 22,000 t of spring- and autumn-spawning herring would not appear to be excessive. Catches in recent years have been below this level due mainly to the closure of the St. George's Bay spring fishery and poor fishing conditions in the fall. The appearance of the strong 1990 year-class in the spring gillnet fishery in 1996 suggests that there is no longer a biological rationale for the continued exclusion of commercial fishing from St. George's and Port-au-Port Bays. It is recommended that the reopening of these bays to commercial fishing proceed with caution, with areas of known spawning activity remaining closed to intensive fishing. It is further recommended that fishing effort be spread out along the coast and throughout the year as much as possible to avoid directed fishing on any one local spawning component.
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