Terms of Reference

Stock Status Update of Herring in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Fishing Area 4VWX

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

April 8, 2016
Dartmouth, N.S.

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) is a pelagic species found on both sides of the North Atlantic. The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 4VWX management unit contains a number of herring spawning areas. For the purposes of evaluation and management, the 4VWX herring fisheries are divided into four components: 1) Southwest Nova Scotia/Bay of Fundy (SWNS/BoF) spawning component (also ‘4WX’ in management plan); 2) Offshore Scotian Shelf banks spawning component; 3) Coastal (South Shore, Eastern Shore and Cape Breton) Nova Scotia spawning component; and 4) Southwest New Brunswick (SWNB) migrant juveniles. A 4VWX herring stock assessment update was conducted in 2014 followed by a stock assessment conducted in 2015 (DFO 2014, DFO 2015). This update of the 4VWX herring management unit will be conducted using the framework assessment approach (evaluation of stock status indicators) and established reference point for the stock.

Objectives

Review and update biological and fishery information on 4VWX herring stock status to assist with establishing the final quota for 2015/2016 fisheries, as required in the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, including but not limited to:

• Evaluation of the Southwest Nova Scotia/Bay of Fundy spawning component.
• Review of information regarding the Offshore Scotian Shelf spawning component and Coastal Nova Scotia spawning component.
• Update of the Southwest New Brunswick migrant juvenile fishery component.
• Evaluation of the fishery with respect to the conservation Limit Reference Point.
• Advise on recovery and rebuilding of 4VWX herring, including a review of whether the goals of the rebuilding plan are being met.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participants

• DFO Science
• DFO Resource Management

References

DFO. 2014. 4VWX Herring 2014 Update Report. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2014/029.

DFO. 2015. 2015 Assessment of 4VWX Herring. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2015/040.