Terms of Reference

Status Update of the Western Component Pollock Management Strategy Evaluation

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

December 2, 2015
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

In the Western Atlantic, Pollock are found from southwestern Greenland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Important Canadian fisheries for Pollock occur on the Scotian Shelf, eastern Georges Bank and the Bay of Fundy using primarily otter trawl and gillnets, but also handlines and longlines. The faster-growing Western Component includes 4Xopqrs and Canadian portions of Area 5. Fisheries Management and industry have recently moved towards managing Pollock in the Western Component using a risk management approach (Management Strategy Evaluation, or MSE). The Management Procedure and associated Harvest Control Rules were established in 2011 (DFO 2011). The DFO Maritimes Resource Management sector has requested that DFO Science provide an update on the science advice for the Western Component (4Xopqrs5) Pollock unit in support of the 2016/2017 fishery. The last assessment of Western Component (4Xopqrs5) Pollock was conducted in December 2008 (DFO 2009). A status update on the established Harvest Control Rules was completed in December 2014 (DFO 2015).

Objectives

To establish the 2016/17 Western Component Pollock catch level generated by the Harvest Control Rule described in the Science Advisory Report (SAR) 2011/054 ‘Western Component Pollock Management Strategy Evaluation’.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

DFO. 2011. Western Component (4Xopqrs5) Pollock Management Strategy Evaluation. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/054.

DFO. 2015. Western Component (4Xopqrs5) Pollock Harvest Control Rule Update Report. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2015/003

Stone, H., C. Nelson, D. Clark, and A. Cook. 2009. 2008 Assessment of Pollock in 4VWX+5. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/001.