Research Document - 1999/072

Assessment of Haddock on Eastern Georges Bank.

By S. Gavaris and L. Van Eeckhaute

Abstract

Haddock catches from eastern Georges Bank fluctuated around 5,000 tons from the early 1980s to 1993. Under restrictive management measures, catches declined from 6,366 t in 1991 to a low of 2,111 t in 1995, then increased again to 3,720 t, 2,733 t and 3,696 t in 1996, 1997 and 1998 respectively. Over half of the 1998 catch weight was comprised of haddock from the 1992 and 1993 year-classes. The trend in ages 3-8 abundance from surveys increased from 1992 to 1996 and has fluctuated since then. Surveys indicate that the 1996 year-class may be comparable to the moderate 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1992 year-classes. The 1997 year-class is weaker and preliminary indications suggest that the 1998 year-class may be strong.

Population biomass for ages 3-8 has steadily increased from near historic low levels of 6,737 t in 1993 to 26,836 t in 1999. The recent increase, due principally to the 1992 year-class, but also supported by the 1991 and 1993 year-classes, was enhanced by increased survivorship of young haddock resulting from reduced capture of small fish in the fisheries. The continuing increase is being sustained by the 1996 year-class. The abundance of the 1996 year-class was estimated at about 16 million. The 1995 and 1997 year-classes appear weaker at about 6 million. The exploitation rate for fully recruited ages 4-8 has consistently been below the F_0.1 target of 20% since 1995. Reduced fishing mortality in recent years has resulted in increased survival of incoming year-classes and greater abundance at older ages.

Projected total Canada/USA yield at F_0.1 = 0.25 in 1999 would be about 6,300 t. If fished at F_0.1 in 1999, the biomass for ages 3-8 is projected to increase from 26,836 t to 27,430 t at the beginning of 2000. Ages 3-7 should comprise about 90% of the total yield in 1999 with all these year-classes contributing almost equally. A projected total Canada/USA catch of 4,000 t in 1999, about what was caught in 1998, results in a negligible risk that fishing mortality rate will exceed F_0.1 and that the biomass for ages 3-8 will decrease. At this yield, there is a risk of about 50% of not achieving 10% biomass increase and a risk of over 90% of not achieving 20% biomass increase.

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