Research Document 2024/001
Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland Halibut Stock Status in 2022
By Chamberland, J.-M. and Benoît H.
Abstract
The status of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, NAFO, Divisions 4RST) Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) stock is assessed on a two-year cycle that matches the fishery management cycle for the stock. This document presents the data, analyses and indicators presented at the peer review that took place on 13 and 14 February 2023 at the Maurice-Lamontagne Institute and via the Zoom platform. The data used to assess status come from fisheries statistics, sampling of commercial catches, the at-sea observer programme and scientific surveys.
Preliminary landings and fishing effort have shown downward trends for several years and reached in the 2022-2023 fishing season the lowest values observed since the beginning of their respective series. Nonetheless, the fishing performance index was at an average level in 2022. The length composition of landings was stable from 2019 to 2022, although during this period the mean length was below the series average and the proportion of fish below the minimum legal size was above average at about 30%. Abundance and biomass indices from the three scientific surveys have been on a downward trajectory since the mid-2000s. The abundance in cohorts expected to contribute to the fishery in 2023 and 2024 ranged from low (2016) to high (2017-2018). The somatic growth rate in these cohorts appeared to be normal but their low condition in 2022 could negatively affect their growth. The exploitation rate indicator was at the lowest levels observed in 2021 and 2022. Under the precautionary approach, the stock status indicator, estimated at 33,366 t, placed the stock at the top of the cautious zone in 2022. Under the harvest control rule, all sources of removals should not exceed 2,002 t in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Current environmental conditions and climate projections suggest that the situation is likely to remain unfavourable for the stock productivity.
In this document we also present new analyses related to the spatial and environmental distribution of Greenland halibut in winter, the stock-recruitment relationship, the form of the selectivity function of the northern Gulf survey, as well as preliminary results of a project on unaccounted mortality in the directed gillnet fishery.
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.
- Date modified: