Proceedings 2024/010

Proceedings of the Regional Peer Review on the Stock Assessment of Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and Striped Shrimp (P. montagui) in the Eastern Assessment Zone and Western Assessment Zone for the 2023-24 Fishing Season; February 15–16, 2023

Chairperson: Joclyn Paulic

Editor: Kayla Gagliardi

Summary

A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Peer Review Process on the Stock Assessment of Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and Striped Shrimp (P. montagui) in the Eastern Assessment Zone (EAZ) and Western Assessment Zone (WAZ) for the 2023–24 fishing season was held February 15–16, 2023 as a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Resource Management requested a biennial stock assessment for Northern Shrimp and Striped Shrimp in the EAZ and WAZ. While monitoring occurs every year, DFO Science conducts a full stock assessment, which examines available fishery data to evaluate the state of the stock (stock status indicators) and other environmental factors that could affect the stocks (i.e., climate, oceanographic conditions, predator-prey relationships) every two years. In the interim years, DFO Science provides an update on the status of the stocks, which generally serves as a mechanism to consider stock status indicators (i.e., biomass and exploitation rate indices) within the context of the Precautionary Framework. This science advice will be used by Fisheries Management for future consultations with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Management Board and the Northern Shrimp Advisory Committee (NSAC) to inform the co-management decision-making process on annual harvest levels for the fisheries.

The objectives of this peer review meeting were to 1) review and update the stock status indicators (biomass indices, exploitation rate indices) and catches for Northern Shrimp and Striped Shrimp in the EAZ and WAZ within the context of the Precautionary Framework (Limit Reference Points and proposed Upper Stock Reference Points); and, 2) review available and relevant summaries of oceanographic conditions, biological community structure and trends, and pertinent knowledge of ecological interactions (e.g., predator/prey interactions) and other stressors (e.g., anthropogenic impacts).

This Proceedings report summarizes the relevant discussions and presents key conclusions reached during the meeting. Additional publications from this process will be posted on the DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat website as they become available.

Proceedings 2024/010 (PDF, 356 KB)

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