Terms of Reference

Update of indicators to 2021 of Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) from NAFO Division 4T, southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Regional Science Response Process – Gulf Region

March 1, 2022
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Jenni McDermid

Context

The info will be used to determine if changes (management measures/TAC/other) are needed in order to protect the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence winter flounder stock for the fishing years 2022 and 2023. This stock was scheduled to have a full stock assessment but will instead be subject to an update of its abundance indices.

Objectives

Species/stocks:

• Winter Flounder 4T

Indicators:

• Abundance indices from the trawl survey (average weight of commercial size winter flounder per tow)

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Gulf Science
• DFO Gulf Fisheries Management
• Industry participants, this stock is currently fished in the Gaspesie, the Magdalen Islands and on Prince Edward Island

References

• Surette, T., and Rolland, N. 2019. Assessment of the Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) stock of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T) to 2016 and advice for the May 2017 to May 2022 fisheries. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2019/026. x + 94 p.
• DFO. 2020. Updated indices of abundance to 2019 for winter flounder from NAFO div. 4T, witch flounder from NAFO divs. 4RST and white hake from NAFO div. 4T. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Resp. 2020/008.