Research Document - 2014/014
Update of Sentinel Survey Results in NAFO Divisions 2J3KL for 1995-2012
By D. Maddock Parsons
Abstract
Data from the Sentinel program in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization’s (NAFO) Divisions (Div.) 2J3KL are presented for 1995 to 2012. Mean gillnet (5½") catch rates of Atlantic Cod (number per net) in Div. 3K and 3L were relatively high in 1996 and 1997, increased to the highest value in 1998 and then decreased to 2003. Since then, catch rates increased to 2008, declined to 2009 and 2011 in Div. 3K and 3L, respectively, and increased again in 2012 to reach the second highest value in the series for 3L and the highest for 3K. In Div. 2J, although catch rates in 5½" gillnet were very low in all years, they show a marked increase in 2005 and remain at similar levels through 2011. In 2012, gillnet catch rates in Div. 2J almost tripled. Small mesh gillnet catch rates have been more variable and trends are more difficult to discern, probably linked to this gear catching fish from two distinct size ranges. Linetrawl catch rates (number of fish per 1000 hooks) in Div. 3K and 3L showed similar trends to 5½" gillnet, decreasing from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. In Div. 3L, there has been a general declined in linetrawl catch rates, while in Div. 3K mean catch rates increased from 2000 to 2009 and has since generally declined. There has been no linetrawl activity in Div. 2J since 2001.
Catch rates of Atlantic Cod were generally higher in the Central Inshore area (NAFO unit areas 3Kh, 3Ki, 3La and 3Lb) compared to the Northern Inshore (2Jm, 3Ka and 3Kd) and Southern Inshore areas (3Lf, 3Lj and 3Lq). In recent years, catch rates have improved considerably in the Northern Inshore area and in 2012, the catch rate in 5½" gillnet was the highest in the time series. For each unit area in the Central Inshore area, the 2012 5½" gillnet catch rate was higher than the series mean and also improved from 2011. In the Southern Inshore area recent years’ catch rates were below the time series mean in both 3Lj and 3Lq, but above the time series mean in 3Lfwhere, the 2012 catch rates were the second highest in the series. In the small mesh gillnet, trends in catch rates were similar to those in the 5½" gillnets, with higher catches in the central area. In the Northern area, catch rates were above the series mean in 2012, while they were either at or above the series mean in the Central Inshore area. In the Southern Inshore area, catch rates during the most recent years were below the time series means. Linetrawl was not used extensively in Div. 2J3KL, however, catch rates were lower in most unit areas in recent years.
Trends in liver and gutted body condition of cod showed a seasonal cycle, with condition declining over the winter and early spring, and increasing again over the summer once spawning has occurred. Annually, condition was variable but stable from 1995 to about 2005, showed a decline to 2009 in females, and 2010 in males before increasing once more for both sexes to 2012.
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