Terms of Reference

Assessment of Gulf of St. Lawrence capelin stock (4RST)

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 27, 2018
Mont-Joli, Québec

Chairperson: Martin Castonguay

Context

In the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, capelin has traditionally been used as fertilizer, bait or for its oil. Towards the end of the 1970s, the emergence of a Japanese market for roe-bearing females sparked a rapid growth of the fishery with catches that increased from approximately 700 t per year to nearly 10,000 t. In NAFO Divisions 4RST, most catches are made on the west coast of Newfoundland by a fleet of small and large purse seiners and by trap fishermen. Capelin is also caught on Quebec’s Lower North Shore and weirs in the St. Lawrence Estuary. In addition to recreational catches made on beaches during the spawning season, capelin are also a by-catch of the shrimp (Pandalus borealis) fishery and the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary surveys conducted annually in the Estuary and northern and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Even though capelin population structures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence are not clearly defined, the species is managed according to two distinct management units, NAFO Divisions 4R and 4ST. A Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 11,195 t is applied to Division 4R compared with 1,805 t for all of Divisions 4ST. There is no abundance survey specifically directed on capelin. Consequently, it is impossible to calculate spawning biomass, fishing mortality and limit reference points, which would help define, based on the precautionary approach, a strategic framework for the fishery and a TAC.

The last capelin assessment in Divisions 4RST was conducted in 2013. An update of the stock status was produced in 2015. The Fisheries Management Branch requested science advice on this stock for the 2018 and 2019 fishing seasons.

Objective

Provide scientific advice on the capelin stock status in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) for the 2018 and 2019 fishing seasons. This review will include:

An assessment of the distribution of capelin based on:

• An analysis of the commercial fishery statistics (overall distribution of landings and breakdown by division, unit area, month and fishing gear);
• An analysis of the biological data collected by port samplers and by at sea observers (size structure and some biological parameters);
• Calculation of the capelin by-catches by NAFO unit area in the Gulf of St. Lawrence shrimp fishery;
• Calculation of a new 4R seiner performance index;
• Data from the CCGS Teleost multispecies survey from the North and South of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (capelin occurrence as a function of its main predators and environmental factors);
• Critical evaluation of the 4R purse seiner performance index and the 4RST dispersion index calculated from the CCGS Teleost research surveys;
• The identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future.
• The determination of the process to provide advice during the interim years, including a description of conditions that may warrant a full stock assessment earlier than originally planned;
• Recommendations on acceptable harvest levels for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Expected Publications

• A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Advisory Report on capelin (4RST).
• CSAS Proceedings summarizing the discussions.
• CSAS Research Document.

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science and Fisheries Management Branches
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives
• Aboriginal communities/organizations