Research Document - 2000/025

American Plaice Catch Results from Fall 1999 Survey in NAFO Division 3Ps.

By J. McClintock

Abstract

To enhance the fisheries research database in NAFO Division 3Ps, the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) has funded surveys during fall 1997, 1998, and 1999 directed at cod and flatfish. The focus in this document is American plaice. The continuing intent is to create a series of annual fall surveys in 3Ps to complement current resource assessment activities carried out by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). GEAC funded and performed the surveys with scientific guidance from DFO in the design and execution of a stratified random survey and the associated sampling. The data collected during these surveys have been subsequently analysed on behalf of GEAC and for the additional intent of providing this information to DFO, for their databases and their assessment work. This is the second GEAC survey to investigate in detail the American plaice catch (following on the 1998 results in CSAS Research Document 1999/059). One trip to perform the 1999 survey was carried out from 22 November to 2 December 1999. These dates match the 8-17 December 1997 and 30 November to 12 December 1998 time periods for the earlier two years. During the 1999 trip, set details and length frequencies were logged in the DFO Fisheries Form System (FFS) and otoliths were collected for subsequent aging. Catch statistics, length and age distribution, and stratified analysis estimates of American plaice abundance and biomass, including age distribution estimates, and interpretation of results are presented. The 1999 results indicate that the strengths of all year classes from 1987 onwards are all increased from the corresponding 1998 survey. The 1989 to 1991 year classes in particular are up noticeably from the 1998 survey. Total plaice abundance and biomass estimates for the 1999 survey are three times larger than for 1998; however, the increases can be accounted for by one stratum area of the survey. Most likely it is a year effect that is the cause of the increases.

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