Terms of Reference

Update of Commercial fishing Indicators for Greenland halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2013

Regional Science Response Process – Quebec Region

February 25, 2014
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Charley Cyr

Context

The Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) stock assessment is is conducted every two years and the last assessment took place in February 2013 (DFO 2013a). An update of the main indicators of the resource was made on October 18, 2013 and a Science Response was produced (DFO 2013b). Following this update, Fisheries Management made a second request to Science to obtain information on the fishermen performance during the 2013 season. This update should provide the Fisheries Management an overview of changes in the indicators of commercial fishing for the 2013.

Objectives

The meeting objectives are to review the indicators of commercial fishing for Greenland Halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2013, namely:

• Updating landings
• Updating the distribution of fishing effort
• Updating catch rates in the commercial fishery.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science)

DFO. 2013a. Assessment of Greenland halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2012.DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/039.

DFO. 2013b. Update of main indicators of the stock status of Greenland halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2013. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2013/025.