Research Document 1998/72

Status of Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) resources in areas off Baffin Island, Labrador, and northeastern Newfoundland - Interim review

By D.G. Parsons and P.J. Veitch

Abstract

Data from the commercial fishery for northern shrimp were analyzed for four assessment/ management areas: Division 0B, Division 2G, Hopedale + Cartwright Channels and Hawke Channel + Division 3K - corresponding to shrimp fishing areas (SFA's) 2, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. Within each area, status of the resource was inferred by examining trends in catch, effort, catch per unit effort, fishing pattern and size/sex composition of the catches. Also, multispecies research trawl surveys in 1995, 1996 and 1997 provided information on distribution and abundance of shrimp in Hawke Channel + Div. 3K for all three years and throughout the Div. 2G-3K area for 1996 and 1997.

The northern shrimp offshore fishery again performed well in 1997 and an inshore component was successfully initiated. Catch rates of offshore vessels in the Hopedale + Cartwright and Hawke + 3K areas were as high as or higher than those observed since the fishery began. The effect of double trawling by a few vessels was not considered significant in the interpretation of the catch rate data. Research surveys showed that abundance/biomass remained high in both these areas, particularly in Hawke + 3K. In Div. 2G, the concern for a decline in catch rates between 1994 and 1996 was mollified after improved fishery performance in 1997 and the research survey indicated the possibility of low exploitation. A healthy spawning stock has been maintained in recent years. The status of the resource in Div. 0B remains uncertain in the absence of a time series of research trawl surveys.

It was concluded that the shrimp resource in Hawke Channel + Div. 3K (SFA 6) remains healthy and a further increase in the TAC for 1998, the second year of the three-year management plan, can be considered by managers. Given the healthy spawning stock and, possibly, low exploitation in Div. 2G (SFA 4), an increase in the TAC for 1998 also can be considered for this area, all or part of which to be assigned to the area south of 60° N in an attempt to spread effort beyond the preferred fishing grounds. TAC's for shrimp in Div. 0B (SFA 2) and Hopedale + Cartwright (SFA 5) in 1998 should remain unchanged from 1997 levels.

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