Research Document - 2003/097

Cod catch results 2002: year six of the NAFO Subdivision 3Ps Fall GEAC Surveys

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 2002 directed at cod. 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 sixth such GEAC survey in 3Ps following on the previous 1997-2001 surveys (CSAS Research Documents 99/20, 99/34, 2000/024, 2001/012, and 2002/037). One trip to perform the 2002 survey was carried out from 23 November to 3 December 2002. These dates correspond well with the late-November and December time periods for the earlier five 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 cod abundance and biomass, including age distribution estimates, and interpretation of results are presented.

The 2002 survey indicates a total abundance estimate for 37.9 million cod which is down by 14% from the 2001 estimate of 44 million but is still consistent with the 2000 estimate of 37.7 million. The total biomass estimate for 2002 is 92 ktonnes which is up 11% from the 2001 estimate of 82.7 ktonnes but is still less than half the 187 ktonnes estimate of 2000. The larger 2000 biomass estimate is due in large part to increased numbers of larger cod, age 6 years and older, and in particular age 10 and 11, caught in 2000 that were not present in the 2001 or 2002 surveys. Nevertheless, the appearance of large numbers of smaller fish aged 3 and 4 in 2001 continued in 2002 with 80% of the estimated total abundance being attributable to age 4 and 5 year old cod. While most of the cod caught in 2001 were located in the shallower depths of the St. Pierre Bank, the greatest number of cod in the 2002 survey were located in the deeper mouth and entrance of Halibut Channel where most of the large catches of the earlier survey years were located.

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