Research Document - 2008/084

Abstract

In 2007, preliminary landings of capelin in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Divisions 4RST) totalled 7,416t. This represents a drop of 4,467t compared to the 11,883t (a historical high) landed in 2006. The decrease can be explained by a sharp drop of catches in unit areas 4Rb and 4Rc. Capelin is also a regular by-catch in the shrimp fishery. Based on Observer Program data, 121t of capelin was apparently caught in this fishery in 2007 and most of these catches are from the Sept-Iles management area. During the 1990s, the fishery in 4Rc occurred later than in the 1980s. More consistency was observed thereafter except for 2006. The size of capelin caught in 4R with small and large purse seines dropped considerably from the early 1990s up to 2001. This decrease was followed by an increase and recorded lengths in 2007 were similar to the annual means for the 1984-2006 period. Since 1990, capelin catches in the annual bottom trawl surveys extended further south in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Division 4T). However, for the west coast of Newfoundland (Division 4R), the dispersions recorded in 2007 were among the weakest of the series. The principal cause of mortality for capelin is predation. In the mid-1980s, the main predators for capelin were Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and redfish (Sebastes spp.). These two species were replaced in the mid-1990s and early 2000s by cetaceans, harp seal (Phoca groenlandica), Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) and finally by redfish and capelin in the mid-2000s. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is 11,200t for Division 4R. A common TAC of 1,800t is allocated to Divisions 4ST. Even though the commercial fishery only exploited a small proportion of the total biomass, any TAC increase should be done with caution because of capelin’s primary role in the marine ecosystem. However, the difficulty in locating capelin in the traditional fishing areas of 4Rb and 4Rc in 2007 suggests that there should be no TAC increase in Division 4R. In addition, it is suggested that the fishing effort be dispersed all along the coast.

Complete document (PDF, 11641 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.