Research Document - 1999/156

The status of Redfish in Div. 3O.

By D. Power

Abstract

Nominal catches have ranged between 3,000 t and 35,000 t since 1960. Up to 1986 catches averaged 13,000 t, increased to 35,000 t by 1988 and declined subsequently to 3,000 t in 1995 due to reductions in foreign allocations. Foreign fleets historically accounted for most of catch but Canada has increased its activity in since 1995. From 1996-1999 Canadian catches have alternated between levels of about 8,000 t and 2,500 t due to the lack of market for redfish near the 22 cm size limit. Assessment of this stock has been primarily based on research data due to variable commercial indices and fleets prosecuting different areas of the stock. It is difficult to reconcile year to year changes in seasonal RV survey, but generally, the spring survey biomass index suggests the stock may have increased since the early 1990s, but has stabilized at around 100,000 t since 1994. The autumn RV survey, while more stable in the early 1990s, generally supports this. RV surveys do not adequately sample fish greater than 25 cm which up to 1997 have generally comprised the main portion the fishery which makes it is difficult to interpret survey estimates in relation to what is happening to the stock as a whole. The fishery since 1998 appeared to target the relatively strong 1988 year class that has grown sufficiently to exceed the small fish protocol of 22 cm. There is concern that there has been little sign in recent surveys of size groups smaller than 17 cm despite using a shrimp trawl, which is very effective at catching small fish.

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