Research Document - 2008/070

An Assessment of Newfoundland East and South Coast Herring Stocks to the Spring of 2008

By J.P. Wheeler, B. Squires, and P. Williams

Abstract

Results of an assessment to the spring of 2008 are presented for four herring stocks along the east and southeast coasts of Newfoundland. Commercial landings increased from 6400 t in 2006 to 6700 t in 2007; this represented approximately 54% of the 2007 Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Complete landings data were not available for 2008. Spring spawners accounted for 55% of commercial landings in all areas in 2007; this represented an increase from 2006. The 2002 year class was dominant in 2007 research gill net catches in all areas. Five series of abundance indices were available for most of the stock areas: research gill net catch rates, commercial gill net catch rates, gill net fisher observations from logbooks, gill net fisher observations from telephone surveys, and purse seine fisher observations. ADAPT calibrations were completed for spring and fall spawners for each stock area. The results of these calibrations were rejected for all areas based upon large parameter error estimates and residual patterns of indices. The methodology to describe stock status was therefore similar to the last assessment in 2006. Current status and future prospects were summarized for each area in a performance report. These reports were based upon a standardized interpretation of abundance indices and biological characteristics. For White Bay–Notre Dame Bay, stock status improved from 2002 to 2008. For Bonavista Bay– Trinity Bay, stock status improved from 2002 to 2007 but deteriorated in 2008. For St. Mary’s Bay–Placentia Bay, stock status deteriorated slightly from 2005 to 2008. For Fortune Bay, stock status deteriorated from 2001 to 2004, improved slightly in 2005, deteriorated again in 2006 and has remained stable from 2006 to 2008. For all areas, current abundance is substantially lower than peak estimates, most of which occurred in the 1970’s.

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