Proceedings 2023/046

Proceedings of the regional peer review evaluating the robustness of management procedures for the Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) fishery in British Columbia, Canada for 2017-18; January 10, 2017

Chairperson: John Holmes

Editors: Melissa Nottingham and John Holmes

Summary

These proceedings summarize the relevant discussions and key conclusions that resulted from a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Peer Review meeting held on January 10, 2017 at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, British Columbia (BC). A working paper evaluating the performance of the current Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) management procedure (MP) and nine alternative MPs against a revised operating model structure was reviewed. The working paper tested MP robustness against three plausible operating model scenarios that represented alternative hypotheses about Sablefish stock productivity. These three scenarios were expanded to five scenarios as a result of the review in order to better represent uncertainty in combinations of productivity and spawning biomass in 2016.

In-person and web-based participation included DFO staff from Science and Fisheries and Aquatic Management Sectors, and external participants from First Nations, the commercial fishing industry, and academia.

DFO and the BC Sablefish fishing industry collaborate on a management strategy evaluation (MSE) process intended to develop and implement a transparent and sustainable harvest strategy. Sustainability of harvest strategies is determined by simulation testing alternative MPs against operating models (OM) that represent a range of hypotheses about Sablefish stock and fishery dynamics. Performance of MPs used in these tests is measured against pre-agreed conservation and catch objectives for the stock and fishery. The Sablefish operating model was revised in 2016 (DFO 2016a, b) to include several structural changes that improved model fit to the data and resulting estimates of historical recruitment relative to the previous operating model. Tests of the current and alternative MPs for robustness to uncertain stock and fishery dynamics described in the working paper that use the revised operating model are expected to result in advice that is compliant with both the “DFO Sustainable Fisheries Framework” (SFF) and “A fishery decision-making framework incorporating the Precautionary Approach” (PA) policies.

The conclusions and advice resulting from this review will be published in the form of a Science Advisory Report (SAR) to inform management planning for the 2017-18 fishing year.

The Science Advisory Report and supporting Research Document will be made publicly available on the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website.

Proceedings 2023/046 (PDF, 366 KB)

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