Research Document 2023/079

Information to Support the Assessment of Northern Shrimp, Pandalus borealis, and Striped Shrimp, Pandalus montagui, in the Eastern and Western Assessment Zones, February 2017

By Walkusz, W., and Atchison, S.

Abstract

The status of the Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and Striped Shrimp (P. montagui) resources in the Eastern Assessment Zone (EAZ) and the Western Assessment Zone (WAZ) were assessed based on the results of fishery-independent surveys jointly conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Northern Shrimp Research Foundation (NSRF) and commercial catch information. Data for the EAZ assessment spanned the years 2006–2016. Results from individual survey areas within the EAZ are provided. Northern Shrimp in the EAZ were assessed to be within the Healthy Zone of the Precautionary Approach Framework with the fishable biomass in the last two years (2015 and 2016) being higher than the long term mean for the area. The potential exploitation rate for 2016/17, based on the TAC of 9,488 t, is approximately 14.5%. Striped Shrimp biomass in the EAZ has fluctuated considerably over the past six surveys, making interpretation of the time series challenging as no clear trend can be inferred. These fluctuations moved Striped Shrimp in the EAZ from a middle point of the Cautious Zone in 2015/16 into the Healthy Zone in 2016/17. Taking into consideration the large interannual biomass fluctuations, caution is advised when setting the TAC for the 2016/17 fishing season. The latest survey (2016) was the third consecutive survey since the time series restarted in the WAZ due to changes in the survey vessel, gear and timing, and a lack of standardization with the prior surveys. The potential exploitation rate indices are 15.9% and 19.3% for Northern Shrimp and Striped Shrimp, respectively, in the WAZ in 2016. These rates are above the target exploitation rate of 15%. While a statistically significant declining trend has not been detected, continuous declines over the last 3 years in the mean biomass for Striped Shrimp in the WAZ are cause for caution when setting the TAC. Precaution should be taken with the WAZ stocks until there is an adequate time series (i.e., at least 5 years of surveys) to develop reference points for the WAZ.

Research Document 2023/079 (PDF, 14,864 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.