Research Document - 2001/018
Newfoundland East and Southeast Coast Herring - An Assessment of Stocks to the Spring of 2000
By J.P. Wheeler, B. Squires, and P. Williams
Abstract
Results of analysis of data from 1998 to the spring of 2000 are presented for four herring stocks along the east and southeast coasts of Newfoundland. Commercial landings in 1998 (4200 t) were lower than in 1997 (7500 t) due primarily to poor market conditions and to reduced quotas. Landings in 1999 decreased further to 3400 t. Spring spawners of the 1991 and 1992 year classes dominated the 1998 and 1999 catches in most areas. Three series of abundance indices were available for each of the stock areas including research gill net catch rates and acoustic survey biomass estimates extending back to the early 1980's, and commercial gill net catch rates commencing in 1996. Gill net and purse seine fisher observations were also available since 1996. Stock abundances were estimated from integrated catch at age analysis for three of four stock areas and from a research gill net catchability analysis for the remaining area. The status of each stock was defined by a stock status classification system based upon environmentally dependent stock-recruit relationships. The status of the White Bay - Notre Dame Bay stock was classified as very poor. The Bonavista Bay - Trinity Bay stock was classified as good to very good, and the St. Mary’s Bay - Placentia Bay and Fortune Bay stocks were classified as moderate to good.
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