Terms of Reference

Stock Status Updates of Groundfish Stocks in the Maritimes Region

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

December 4-5, 2019
St. Andrews, New Brunswick and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Co-Chairs: Melanie Barrett and Heath Stone

Context

In the Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries and Aquaculture Branch request an annual assessment of resource status for a variety of groundfish species.  DFO conducts full peer-reviewed stock assessments for a number of groundfish stocks on a multi-year assessment schedule; however, in the interim-years, monitoring continues with Science providing annual updates on the status of these stocks.  In addition, DFO has conducted an annual Summer Research Vessel (RV) Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization divisions 4VWX and a small portion of 5Y since 1970.  Results of these updates and the annual RV Survey are used for discussion with various industry stakeholders on recommendations for management measures, with the results of the RV Survey used to determine which stocks should be reviewed in more detail. 

Objectives

The objective of this Regional Science Response process is to review and evaluate biological and fishery information as well as provide updated advice on the status of the following stocks: Atlantic Halibut, Cusk, Haddock, Pollock, Silver Hake, St. Mary's Bay Sculpin, and the RV Survey Trends.  The objectives of each review are provided below. 
3NOPs4VWX+5 Atlantic Halibut

• Review of biological and fishery information on 3NOPs4VWX5 Atlantic Halibut stock. In particular, update the landings, Research Vessel (RV) survey index of abundance and the halibut survey index of exploitable biomass to include 2019, the trend in fishing mortality (F) from traditional tagging, to monitor stock status and provide 2020 catch advice.

4VWX5 Cusk

• Provide the three-year geometric mean of the Cusk catch per unit effort from the DFO-Industry longline survey relative to the Upper Stock Reference (26.6 kg/1000 hooks) and the Limit Reference Point (13.3 kg/1000 hooks); and
• Provide updated landings information, as available.

4X5Y Haddock

• Provide the most recent survey and fishery information, including the fishery catch-at-age and weight-at-age, if available;
• Compare these results to 2018 projections, including proportion of strong year classes, weight-at-age, and biomass changes, and determine whether the catch advice from the projections is still valid;
• Include a table of indicators that provide support for either 1) maintaining existing catch advice, or 2) reducing catch advice; and, 
• Provide the most recent information (2018 and 2019) on the length of fish captured by the fleet.

Western Component Pollock

• Provide the 2019/20 Western Component Pollock catch level generated by the Harvest Control Rule described in the 2011 Science Advisory Report DFO 2011/054, and
• Update other indices of biomass for the WC Pollock stock, specifically US surveys and the Canadian summer survey, including sets on Georges Bank.

4VWX and 5Y Research Vessel Survey Trends

• Review and evaluate information obtained from the DFO Research Vessel (RV) Survey on the Scotian Shelf and in the Bay of Fundy. Specifically, update the RV survey trends document to include survey data for 2019;
• Provide information on distribution, biomass estimates and length composition, highlighting biomass trends relative to 40% and 80% of the long-term average.
• Provide a table reporting the biomass estimate for each stock for 2017, 2018 and 2019, as well as the averages; and,
• The three-year geometric mean of the 42 cm+ 4X5 White Hake.

4VWX Silver Hake

• Review and evaluate biological and fishery information on 4VWX Silver Hake.  In particular, provide the following information and highlight any trends: fishery landings from previous years, research vessel survey biomass and length composition, and recruitment index (age 1 from the RV survey)
• Provide descriptions of biomass and exploitation in relation to adopted reference points.
• Provide bycatch information for Gaspereau, Shad, Herring and Mackerel.

St. Marys Bay Sculpin

• Preliminary review the information available for evaluating the sustainability of the St. Mary's Bay Sculpin fishery, including information about catch, the length frequency of the catch, and the RV survey as applicable.
• Report on the bycatch of non-target species in the St Mary's Bay Sculpin Fishery.
• What is the in-season exploitation rate of Sculpin in St. Mary's Bay? What indices could be developed to monitor the sustainability of the St. Mary's Bay Sculpin fishery?

Expected Publication

• Science Response(s)

Participation

• DFO Science, Maritimes Region
• DFO Resource Management, Maritimes Region