Terms of Reference

Lingcod Assessment (Ophiodon elongatus) for the Strait of Georgia (Area 4B), British Columbia in 2014

Regional Peer Review – Pacific Region

December 10-11, 2014
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chair: Kate Rutherford

Context

Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) are an important component of First Nations, commercial, and recreational groundfish fisheries off British Columbia, Canada. Commercial fishing for Lingcod in British Columbia dates back to the 1860’s (Cass et al. 1990), with catch data available from 1927.

Lingcod populations in British Columbia are assessed and managed as five separate units based on DFO Statistical Areas.  These units include one inside stock in the Strait of Georgia (Area 4B) and four outside stocks:  southwest Vancouver Island (Area 3C), northwest Vancouver Island (Area 3D), Queen Charlotte Sound (Areas 5A and 5B) and Hecate Strait and the west coast of Haida Gwaii (Areas 5C, 5D and 5E).  This assessment provides advice for the inside assessment area only (Area 4B).   Stock status advice was provided for outside Lingcod stocks in 2011.

Area 4B Lingcod were last assessed in 2005, at which time both the stock assessment and the development of management advice was overseen by a stakeholder committee and approved by CSAP.  A set of biomass-based reference points for Area 4B lingcod were developed as part of the assessment.  Spawning biomass in 2005 was estimated to be at 16% of unfished spawning biomass (DFO 2005), which led to the stock being characterized as “overfished”.  Fishing opportunities for Area 4B Lingcod have been limited in recent years.  Currently the directed commercial fishery for lingcod is closed within Area 4B and only a minimal recreational fishery is permitted.

The Department continues to implement the Sustainable Fisheries Framework (SFF), which is a toolbox of existing and new policies for DFO and other interests to sustainably manage Canadian fisheries in order to conserve fish stocks and support prosperous fisheries. At this time, Fisheries Resource Management Branch has requested that stock status for Area 4B Lingcod be assessed relative to reference points that are consistent with the Fishery Decision-making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach (PA), which is a policy nested within the Sustainable Fisheries Framework (SFF).  This advice will allow GMU to evaluate whether the current management regime has been successful at increasing abundance for Area 4B Lingcod.  Updated harvest advice for Area 4B Lingcod has not been requested at this time. 

Objectives

Guided by the DFO Sustainable Fisheries Framework, particularly the Fishery Decision-making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach, meeting participants will review the following working paper to provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific objectives outlined below.

Holt, K.R., J. King, and B. Krishka.  Stock Assessment for Strait of Georgia Lingcod in 2014.  CSAP Working Paper 2014-15/GF08

The working paper will be used to provide advice with respect to the following objectives:

• Determine whether a model-based assessment of Area 4B lingcod is possible at this time, and evaluate whether available data and analyses are sufficient to support implementation of the PA Framework.
• If a model-based assessment is possible, present recent biomass trajectories with uncertainty and characterize stock status in terms of the DFO PA framework.
• If a model-based assessment is not possible, provide a rationale for this decision, summarize available data, and identify information gaps.
• Make recommendations for data collection and analytical work to improve the ability of Science to make Area 4B Lingcod harvest recommendations in the future.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report
• CSAS Research Document
• CSAS Proceedings

Participation

• DFO (Science, Fisheries Management, Oceans, FPP)
• Aboriginal communities
• Province of British Columbia
• External reviewers
• Industry
• Non-governmental organizations and other scientists and stakeholders.

References

Cass, A.J., R.J. Beamish, and G.A. McFarlane.  1990.  Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus).  Can Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 109: 40p.

DFO 2012. Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) Stock Assessment and Yield Advice for Outside Stocks in British Columbia. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/051.

DFO, 2009. Sustainable Fisheries Framework.

DFO. 2009. Fishery Decision-making Framework Incorporating the Precautionary Approach.