Science Response 2021/026
Stock Status Update of Unit 3 Redfish for 2020
Context
A 10,000 metric tonnes (t) Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was implemented for Unit 3 Redfish (4X+ 4Wdehkl) in 1993 based on the 1991 TAC for the previous management unit (4VWX), prorated by historical (1981-1990) catches in the Statistical Unit Areas that comprise Unit 3 (Atkinson and Power 1991). This TAC was maintained from 1993-1998 based on conclusions from a series of stock status reports, which indicated that stock conditions were not expected to decline in coming years (Branton and Halliday 1994; Branton 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998). The TAC was reduced in 1999 to 9,450 t and to 9,000 t in 2000, due to lower catch rates in 4W and a shift in fishing effort from 4W to 4X (Branton 1999), and has remained at this level. Conservation measures for Unit 3 Redfish currently include protocols for protecting small fish below the minimum size of 22 cm Fork Length (FL) (i.e., closure areas; small fish amounts not to exceed 15% of catch/trip), 100% dockside monitoring and electronic vessel monitoring (VMS), mandatory hail out and hail in, and a target level of 10–20% at-sea observer coverage.
Information on the status of Unit 3 Redfish (i.e., distribution, abundance, biomass) from 1999–2002 was provided through a series of CSAS Research Documents, which included a synopsis of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Summer Research Vessel (RV) Survey trends back to 1970 for selected groundfish stocks (e.g., Branton and Black 2002). Since 2009, the status of Unit 3 Redfish has been updated through a series of CSAS Science Responses (e.g., DFO 2017a), based on Maritimes Region RV Survey trends in biomass and abundance. Following the development of biological reference points consistent with the Precautionary Approach (DFO 2012), the DFO Summer RV Survey Trends Science Responses from 2014 to 2019 have included plots of the mature biomass index for redfish > 22 cm FL relative to the Upper Stock Reference (USR; 80% of Biomass at Maximum Sustainable Yield [Bmsy] proxy) and the Limit Reference Point (LRP; 40% of Bmsy proxy) (DFO 2020). In 2015, a zonal peer review of the assessment framework for Units 1–3 Redfish (DFO 2017b) included a detailed review of Unit 3 Redfish stock status; however, this information has not yet been published, so there has been no new information available on the fishery for several years.
DFO Resource Management asked Science to review biological and fishery information on Unit 3 Redfish, to evaluate the status of the stock relative to adopted reference points and report on bycatch of non-target species in the Unit 3 Redfish Fishery (DFO 2019). This Science Response Report provides a stock status update of Unit 3 Redfish using the most up to date landings and RV survey data.
This Science Response Report results from the Regional Regional Science Response Process of December 1–2, 2020, on the Stock Status Updates of Groundfish Stocks in the Maritimes Region.
Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.
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