Terms of Reference

2015 Stock Status Update for 4VWX Silver Hake

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

December 15, 2015
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

4VWX Silver Hake is assessed on a multiyear assessment schedule, with full assessments conducted every 5 years and Update reports produced in interim years. The last framework review for 4VWX Silver Hake was completed in November 2012 (Stone et al. 2013), and the last full assessment of 4VWX Silver Hake was conducted in December 2012 (DFO 2013). A stock status update for 4VWX Silver Hake was provided in December 2014 (DFO 2015).

The 2012 assessment framework identified indicators of abundance and recruitment from the summer Research Vessel survey, and proposed biomass and fishing mortality reference points appropriate for evaluation of stock status.

Objectives

The objectives of this meeting are to review the 2015 stock status update for 4VWX Silver Hake and ensure that the approach agreed to at the 2012 framework and assessment has been applied, including reporting on the following information:

• Commercial landings to March 2015.
• Biomass and length composition from the DFO summer Research Vessel (RV) survey.
• Total stratified numbers <23 cm from the DFO summer RV survey, as an index of recruitment.
• Evaluation of biomass and fishing mortality in relation to reference points described in the current framework.
• Projections of biomass and exploitation for 2015 under a range of landings scenarios.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management  

References

DFO. 2013. 2012 Assessment of 4VWX Silver Hake. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/018.

DFO. 2015. Interim Report on Scotian Shelf Silver Hake (NAFO Divs. 4VWX) Stock Status. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2015/004.

Stone, H.H., D. Themelis, A.M. Cook, D.S. Clark, M.A. Showell, G. Young, W.E. Gross, P.A. Comeau, and L.A. Alade. 2013. Silver Hake 2012 Framework Assessment: Data Inputs and Exploratory Modelling. DFO Can. Stock Assess. Sec. Res. Doc. 2013/008. 133 p.