Terms of Reference

Assessment of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland Halibut stock

Regional Peer Review - Quebec Region

February 13-14, 2023
Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Hugo Bourdages

Context

The Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) Greenland halibut (turbot) fishery is conducted by inshore fixed-gear fleets from Quebec and the west coast of Newfoundland. This fishery is subject to several management measures including a total allowable catch (TAC). The current assessment is requested by the Fisheries Management Branch to provide detailed advice on the status of 4RST Greenland halibut in order to inform management decisions for this stock for the upcoming management cycle.

Objectives

Provide scientific advice on Greenland halibut stock status in NAFO Divisions 4RST. This advice shall include:

• An oceanographic and environmental overview for the stock area;
• Analysis of the commercial fishing data including landings, fishing effort, catch per unit effort, biological data, Greenland halibut by-catches in other fisheries and by-catches in Greenland halibut directed fishery;
• Analysis of data from the DFO annual research trawl survey and mobile sentinel fisheries program, including biomass, exploitation rates, biological characteristics, length composition, length at maturity and spatial and environmental distribution;
• An assessment of the selectivity of the northern Gulf research survey and its implication on the interpretation of the demographic structure observed in it;
• A presentation of the stock-recruitment relationship;
• Preliminary analyses of the impact of extended immersion times on the quality and mortality of Greenland halibut;
• A presentation of the stock status and outlook for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 in relation to the Precautionary Approach reference points and projected removals under the harvest control rule;
• The determination of the process to provide advice during the interim years including a description of conditions that may warrant adjustments to the current management approach;
• Identification of key sources of uncertainty in the assessment;
• Identification and prioritization of research projects to be considered for the future.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document
• Proceedings

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Fishing industry
• Provincial representatives
• Indigenous Groups
• External experts