Research Document - 2001/119

Summary of information on Atlantic herring in the NAFO 4Tfg area of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and NAFO 4Vn area of Cape Breton

By LeBlanc, C.H., Chouinard, G.A., Hurlbut, T., Poirier, G.A., Benoit, H., Swain, D.P.

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the migration, seasonal distributions, spawning dynamics and diet of herring in the southern Gulf and north-east Cape Breton areas, which encompass the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) Divisions 4T and 4Vn. Emphasis is put on the NAFO 4T sub-divisions 4Tf and 4Tg, as well as Division 4Vn, referred to as area 4TfgVn. This area represents the zone of influence considered in this review for possible oil and gas exploration. Adult herring overwinter off the east coast of Cape Breton in NAFO Division 4Vn. These adults undergo extensive spring and fall migrations to and from their over-wintering area. Juvenile herring less than 25 cm. in total length (age 2 or less) are known to remain and overwinter in coastal waters of the southern Gulf in NAFO Division 4T.

The Magdelen Islands spawning grounds are the largest in the 4TfgVn area in the spring while the Fisherman's Bank spawning grounds of east PEI are the largest in the fall. Eggs are attached to the bottom and delimit the distribution of the spawning grounds. In the fall, high concentrations of larvae are found east of PEI, south and east of the Magdelen Islands and west of Cape Breton. Seasonal distributions of juveniles and adults are described through the fishery landings and research surveys. Current surveys include the fall herring acoustic survey and the annual September groundfish survey. Historical data also came from the December juvenile herring surveys, the January groundfish surveys and the seasonal groundfish surveys. Atlantic herring are visual feeders, consuming plankton during daylight hours, filtering small organisms with their gill rakers.

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