Research Document - 2001/013

American Plaice Catch Results from Fall 2000 GEAC Survey in NAFO Subdivision 3Ps.

By McClintock, J.

Abstract

To enhance the fisheries research database in NAFO Division 3Ps, the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) has funded surveys each fall from 1997 to 2000 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 third GEAC survey to investigate in detail the American plaice catch following on the previous 1998-1999 surveys (CSAS Research Documents 99/59 and 2000/025). One trip to perform the 2000 survey was carried out from 4-15 December 2000. These dates correspond well with the late-November and December time periods for the earlier two years. During the trip, set details and length frequencies were logged in the DFO FFS system 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 results of the 2000 survey appear to be generally consistent with those of 1999, in terms of abundance and the age and length population structure and overall distribution of the stock in 3Ps. Three to four-fold increases are observed in the 1991 to 1994 year classes, while estimates for the abundance of the 1990 and 1989 year classes are decreased two to three-fold from 1999. There are modest increases in 2000 from 1999 of 8% in the abundance estimate and 14% in the biomass estimate.

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