Terms of Reference

Assessment of the Status of the Spawning Population of Saint John River Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)

Regional Science Advisory Process – Maritimes Region

March 23-25, 2021
Virtual meeting

Chairperson: Tana Worcester

Context

Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) is a demersal, anadromous species distributed along the Atlantic coast of North America from the southern United States to Labrador. Two spawning populations of Atlantic Sturgeon are known to exist in Canadian waters: one in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, and another in the St. Lawrence River, Québec.

Fisheries Management is seeking Science advice on the status of the spawning population of the Saint John River to improve the management of the Atlantic Sturgeon fishery. The advice will be used to guide Fisheries Management decisions in the management of food, social, and ceremonial allocations, commercial quota allocations, and access for recreational fishers. Atlantic Sturgeon is also under consideration for listing under the Species at Risk Act.

The information provided in this advisory process will be used to support decisions related to the current terminal licence policy in the commercial fishery.

Objectives

The objectives of this process are as follows:

• provide an estimate of the current spawning stock biomass, as well as advice on appropriate reference points;
• provide advice as to whether the current 350 fish commercial quota (175 males and 175 females) is appropriate relative to the estimate of spawning stock biomass; and
• provide advice as to the usefulness and appropriateness of the current annual closure (month of June) to protect spawning adults, i.e., does the closure provide benefits and is it of the appropriate duration and at the appropriate time of year.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report(s)
• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Expected Participation

• Resource Management
• Species at Risk Management
• Academia
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Fishing Industry
• Provincial government representatives