Terms of Reference
Meeting of the Newfoundland and Labrador Regional Advisory Process (RAP) on Northern (2J3KL) Cod
March 15-19, 2010
Battery Hotel and Conference Centre
St. John's, NL
and
March 22-26, 2010
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre
80 East White Hills Road, St. John's, NL
Chairperson: Don Stansbury
Context
The status of Divisions 2J3KL cod was last assessed in 2009. The current assessment is requested by Fisheries and Aquaculture Management to provide the Minister with advice on the status of the stock.
Objectives
An assessment of the stock status of the following resource will be reviewed:
- 2J3KL Cod
Specifically, the following objectives have been set:
- Describe the fisheries in 2009 including a comparison with the results from previous years.
- Assess the current status of offshore populations, inshore populations and the stock as a whole. In particular, assess current spawning biomass, total (age 3+) biomass, exploitation rate, natural mortality and biological characteristics (including age composition, size at age, age at maturity, and distribution). Describe these variables in relation to historic observations.
- To the extent possible with available information, provide information on the strengths of year-classes expected to enter the exploitable populations in the next 1-3 years.
- Report on results of tagging and telemetry, and the distribution of this stock.
- Assess the impact of the 2009 Inshore Fishery (commercial and recreational) on the stock status and prospects.
- Assess the implications to stock growth of inshore fishery removals in 2010, varying from zero to 7,000t with increments of 1,000t. Provide information and rationales for any time and/or area closures that will provide conservation benefits to the stock
- If the assessment results allow, conduct a risk analysis for TAC options, of the likelihood that the stock will fail to increase. Implications are to be assessed for inshore components, offshore components, and the stock as a whole where possible.
- Highlight major sources of uncertainty in the assessment, and where appropriate, consider alternative analytical formulations of the assessment.
- Provide the scientific information needed to estimate the reference points included in the decision-making framework developed by DFO for the application of Precaution in this fishery. These reference points include:
- Limit Reference Point (Critical:Cautious boundary)
- Upper Stock Reference Point (Critical:Healthy boundary)
- Removal references consistent with the Precautionary Approach
In addition, where available, summarize the current conditions of the ecosystem (including oceanography, key predators and prey) environment.
Products
A Science Advisory Report (SAR) and associated research document(s) will be produced. A Proceedings Report will record the meeting discussions.
Participation
The following participants are expected to attend:
- DFO Science, Newfoundland and Labrador and NCR
- DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Newfoundland and Labrador Region
- Industry Representatives
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Memorial University
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