Research Document 1998/01
The Status of White Hake (Urophycis tenuis Mitchill) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Division 4T) in 1997
By T. Hurlbut, G. Poirier, and G. Chouinard
Abstract
The white hake population in NAFO Division 4T remains near its lowest level since the first quota was established in 1982. Although directed fishing for white hake was closed in NAFO Division 4T in 1997, provisional landings of 211 t were recorded. The majority of these landings were made by vessels that targeted white hake in the Sentinel Fishery. The stratified mean number of white hake caught per tow (all ages) during the 1997 research survey increased slightly from the 1996 level to 4.2 fish/tow, but remains near the lowest historical level. Despite very low reported landings of hake since 1995, estimates of total mortality remain very high. In contrast, estimates of relative fishing mortality declined to minima in 1995 and remain at low levels. Considering the low abundance and indications of weak incoming recruitment over the next couple of years, recovery of this stock will probably occur slowly.
Accessibility Notice
This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.
- Date modified: