Proceedings 2022/009

Proceedings of the Regional Peer Review of the Assessment of American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) in the Maritimes Region; September 5-6 2018

Chairperson: Jennifer Ford

Editor: Jennifer Ford

Summary

A Regional Science Peer Review meeting was held on September 5–6, 2018, at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to review the status of American Eel in the Maritimes Region and the consequences of various harvest levels and strategies. Participation in this meeting included Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Indigenous organizations, non government organizations, the fishing industry, and scientific reviewers.

The status of the eel and elver fisheries in the Maritimes Region was last assessed in 1996. More recently, indices of general status were compiled in support of a national pre-COSEWIC and Recovery Potential Assessment of the American Eel and to help measure progress towards reducing human-induced mortality by 50%. The 2012 COSEWIC assessment designated the American Eel as threatened. The species is currently under consideration for listing under the Species at Risk Act. In 2017, a framework review established the scientific basis for the provision of advice to management in a manner that is consistent with the DFO precautionary approach. This review process aimed at evaluating the effects of human-induced mortality on American Eel productivity and biodiversity at both the regional and local scales. The peer review meeting could not provide an assessment of stock status because of data deficiencies in the reporting of catch and effort in eel fisheries prior to 2016 and because key fisheries independent indices of standing stock are not expected to be updated until 2019 or later.

This proceedings document includes a summary of the presentation and is the record of the meeting discussions. A Science Advisory Report resulting from this meeting will be published on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat’s(CSAS) Website as soon as it is available.

Proceedings 2022/009 (PDF, 505 KB)

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